Imphal, June 27 (IANS) The Manipur government Saturday declared the state as drought-hit, saying agriculture was badly hit due to scanty monsoon rains, officials said.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.

“After deliberating in detail, the cabinet resolved to declare Manipur as drought-hit. To fight the drought and minimise the woes of the farmers, the government decided on a series of measures, including opening up of nurseries for paddy plants with an estimated cost of Rs. 20.7 million,” an official spokesperson said.

The relief and disaster management department has been put on an alert with officials asked to review the damage caused to agriculture due to the unusual dry climate.

There has been a deficit of nearly 40 percent rainfall in Manipur during the month of June compared to last year.

Manipur apart, the other northeastern states too were experiencing scanty rainfall.

The meteorological department is pinning hopes on the break-monsoon period of July and August when monsoon activity increases in the northeast and decreases in other parts of the country.

“If the region receives abundant rainfall during this period, it will be able to make up for the deficit. Otherwise certain parts of the region might experience drought-like situation,” a spokesman at the Guwahati-based Regional Meteorological Centre said.