Eight Rajasthan districts face drought threat
Indo-Asian News Service

Jaipur, Sep 17 (IANS) Despite being declared a flood-hit state, as many as eight districts of Rajasthan are facing a drought-like situation.

The government has directed district collectors to calculate the losses suffered due to the drought.

Though average rainfall remained higher than normal in southern and western parts of the state, most parts in the northwest and east received less than normal rainfall this year.

Twelve districts saw the worst floods in 200 years. About 104 people were killed in the flash floods.

Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli and Sawai Madhopur received 39 percent less rainfall this year. Jaipur and Dausa regions too received scanty rainfall. Both the areas received 38 and 30 percent less rainfall respectively.

Rainfall at Bikaner and Churu remained 48 percent and 36 percent less respectively while Ajmer and Nagore regions received 36 and 28 percent low rainfall respectively.

Most of these districts are likely to face a severe drinking water problem in the next few months.

"We foresee a drinking water crisis here. The water pressure in taps has reduced," said P.K. Chaturvedi, a resident of Bharatpur.

Bharatpur, where the famous Ghana bird sanctuary is situated, is also facing a water shortage.

The natural water reservoirs in these eight districts have nearly dried up.

"Owing to less rainfall most of the fields have lost moisture which has hit the crops," said Ram Kumar Chaudhary, a farmer from Bikaner region.