M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, Aug 18: All eyes are now on the Jharkhand government as to when it declares drought and how many of its 24 districts come under the drought declaration.
Lagatar24.com today met DC Palamu Anjaneyulu Dodde to know the update on Palamu’s drought-like situation. Here are the excerpts of the interview held this afternoon today.
Q: There are 21 blocks in Palamu. Are all the blocks affected by the scanty rain and crop coverage?
A: The rain deviation is pan Palamu. It is deficient everywhere here. But 10 to 12 blocks have borne the brunt of the rain deviation and failed crop coverage more than the others.
Q: Are you sure 10 to 12 blocks only?
A: I understand you should cross-check it from the district agriculture officer D Manjhi. He has all the updates on the rainfall and crop coverage etc. The district agriculture officer in the meeting said if we talk about the severe crisis of rainwater then frankly speaking 8 blocks come under it. There are other blocks here too which suffer on account of poor rain and crop coverage. He named a few blocks like Lesliganj, Untari Road etc.
Q: How is the fate of MGNREGA?
A: We will open up schemes under MGNREGA. We will try to create as many Mandays as possible. There is a fund for the labour component and the material component.
Q: Will employment avenues be more for drought-affected blocks only while other non-drought blocks here will be left to fend it for themselves?
A: Our administration will take care of all. Every eligible who needs work manually will be given a work opportunity.
Q: A drought this year forces the administration to prepare itself to avert it next year of rain etc. So how do you plan to conserve rainwater in the coming months?
A: We are all out to refresh or renovate our outlived water bodies in the district. This we will do with funds like untied ones, 15th finance commission but surely not with the wherewithal of the district mineral foundation trust etc.
Q: What about the curbs on the sand and this district has not been able to set up more sand depots?
A: There is the NGT (national green tribunal) embargo on the sand till mid of October month. So nothing doing. It is true Palamu ought to have more sand depots which it has not now.
Q: Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society has had Rs 22 lakh worth of stock of stitched and ready-to-wear school uniforms for over a year. No government school is coming forward to buy them, then in that situation, these stitched uniforms would go waste or rodents may have a feast of it?
A: Yes, this stocking of the stitched uniform is a big challenge here. I have spoken to the secretary of education. I hope this matter will find its way out.
