Maksam Tayeng 

PASIGHAT, Aug 21: Rising temperatures and low rainfall has affected wet rice cultivation in the rice bowls across the Siang valley, triggering worry among the farming community of the region.

The Indian Meteorology department report during June this year reveals that Arunachal Pradesh and four other Northeastern states including Assam were facing deficit monsoon rain. The State with 511.8 mm of rainfall till end of June, recorded a 32 per cent deficit rainfall against the normal of 749.1 mm.

Siang valley, including East Siang, Upper Siang, Siang and Lower Siang districts, have witnessed scorching heat due to very low rainfall this monsoon for the last couple of weeks and farmers of the region are keeping their fingers crossed, staring at the skies and hoping for last wave of monsoon rain of this season.

The fortnight-long dry spell has not only elevated the mercury levels but also led to drying up of natural irrigation channels, perennial streams and nallahs at Pasighat, Mebo, Namsing, Ruksin in East Siang, Yingkiong in Upper Siang, Pangin-Boleng at Siang and Nari-Seren and Koyu areas in Lower Siang which are considered as rice bowls.

However, the water level in the mighty Siang River is high causing large-scale erosion with high turbidity, which is equally worrying the villages settled along the river bank. With low rainfall in Siang valley, the Siang river must have been manipulated by the Chinese across the border, alleged Lok Sabha MP Ninong Ering.

According to Agriculture Department officials of East Siang, concerned officials have already made field visits and submitted a report about the drought-like situation observed in the area.

The district administration, however, is yet to declare the district as ‘drought-affected’.

Meanwhile, MLA, Pasighat West, Er  Tatung Jamoh, visited the drought-hit farming sites in Sille-Oyan, Ruksin, Tode, Bamin, Debing, etc. on Mondayand took stock of the situation along with his party members.

Jamoh said that he will place the report before the state government for taking up compensatory cultivation scheme for the drought-hit farmers, who survive on agriculture and allied activities.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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