Odisha: Low pressure brings rain, reduces deficit

BHUBANESWAR: Most places in the state witnessed light to moderate rain in the last 24 hours under the influence of Thursday’s low pressure formed over the Bay of Bengal. Some areas also received heavy rainfall. The IMD forecast said intensity of rainfall would reduce from Saturday. “The rain would continue at many places till July 26,” said H R Biswas, director of regional IMD centre here.
Official sources said Birmaharajapur in Nabarangpur district recorded the highest of 202 mm rain in last 24 hours. The low pressure-induced rain brought some relief to farmers to activate their agriculture activities, which was slowed down due to deficit monsoon rain. The IMD said the rain would support in transplantation of kharif paddy. The weatherman said widespread rain also influenced some improvement in prevailing rain deficit trend in the state.
Agriculture minister Arun Sahoo after a recent review of his department told mediapersons that the government was keeping a close watch on monsoon rain trend and would take needful steps after a thorough discussion on the matter. He then disclosed that around 27 blocks spread over five districts are faced with rain deficit. A senior officer of the agriculture department said due to rain deficit the state witnessed around three lakh hectare less paddy coverage this year by last week compared to around 12 lakh hectare area covered during corresponding period last year.