CM, district officials to meet today
AMPATI: The District Administration of South West Garo Hills is bracing itself to tackle the onset of a drought-like situation which has affected the cultivation of paddy in as many as 315 villages in the district.
Out of the total number of affected villages in the district, 162 villages are under Betasing block while 153 others fall under Zikzak Block and the total area affected is 4123 hectares, as per the report submitted by the Agriculture department.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma will hold a meeting with the district line departments on Monday to take stock of the situation.
An emergency meeting was held here at the office of the Deputy Commissioner on Friday to ascertain the situation on receiving report from the District Agriculture Officer and from the progressive farmers of the area that cultivation of sally paddy was being hampered this season due to the drought-like situation.
Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh has also sent a preliminary report to the government regarding the situation and informed that a comprehensive report would be submitted sometime soon.
During the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner instructed the Agriculture department to make a detailed survey and to take immediate alternative measures possible to help the farmers. Measures like digging of shallow tube-wells and bore wells were also suggested.
Other coordinating line departments have also been instructed to take necessary steps to tackle the situation.