Poor Maharashtra, Karnataka rains worry Pawar

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Even though the monsoon has progressed in north India, the Centre is worried that poor rains in Karnataka and Maharashtra could adversely affect the production of coarse cereals, apart from putting stress on availability of drinking water.

Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday told reporters that he was concerned due to inadequate rains in Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Mr Pawar, however, added that the rainfall situation has improved across the country in the last 10 days. “The rainfall situation is definitely improving but the worrisome areas are Karnataka and central Maharashtra,” said Mr Pawar, who met senior officials of the Indian Meteorological Department to take stock of the progress of the monsoon.

He said Karnataka and Maharashtra have received scanty rains so far and the situation has not improved to a satisfactory level.

The minister, however, stated that there is no concern about sowing of kharif crops like paddy, cotton, sugarcane and oil seeds as planting of these crops is expected to pick up.

“Sowing of rice, the main kharif crop, is in progress. There is good rain in Orissa and Chhattisgarh and there should not be any problem in the paddy area,” added Mr Pawar.

He also ruled out any adverse impact on prices of foodgrains due to deficient rains. Meanwhile, Union minister of state for consumer affairs K.V. Thomas on Wednesday said that the government has already moved more than 50 per cent foodgrains which had been lying in the open space to safe storage in a bid to save them from the monsoon rains.

He said that the government has moved almost half of 6.6 million tonnes of wheat kept in open in Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to safe places.