Correspondent
RUKSIN, Aug 21: In view of the drought-like situation in the Siang belt, the Ruksin Mandal BJP Committee has demanded that the state government assess the situation and grant compensatory cultivation schemes to the affected farmers.
“More than 1000 farm families of Bilat, Mirem, Ngorlung, Debing, Sikambamin, Sikatode and Rani villages have not yet planted paddy this season due to lack of water in their fields.
We are all set to move the state’s chief minister, demanding a special package to meet the loss caused by the drought-like situation,” said mandal president Ono Panggeng.
Panggeng informed that local MLA Tatung Jamoh visited the drought-hit paddy fields in Pasighat West area two days ago and met the affected farmers. “He also assured to take up the issue with the state government,” Panggeng said.
Scanty rainfall this summer is affecting wet cultivation in Ruksin, Bilat and Sille-Oyan circles in East Siang district and bordering Jonai in Assam.
The region has witnessed scorching heat due to the scanty rainfall, and the farmers are keeping their fingers crossed, staring at the skies and hoping for the last wave of the monsoon.
The long dry spell in the region has led to drying up of perennial streams and irrigation nallahs in Bilat, Ruksin and Sille-Oyan cropping sites that fall under Pasighat West area.
