MP Elections
Madhya Pradesh: Incessant rains cost MP around 10,000 crore, says chief secretary
This story is from September 17, 2019
Sagar Choukse | TNN | Sep 17, 2019, 18:16 IST
INDORE: Madhya Pradesh has suffered a loss of around Rs 10,000 crore due to excessive rains this season, chief secretary SR Mohanty said on Monday.
"The agriculture sector has suffered damages of around Rs 8,000 crore while other departments are expected to record losses of around Rs 1,800 to 2,000 crore," said the chief secretary, adding that estimates to calculate the exact loss is expected by September 17.
According to Mohanty, a memorandum based on final figures of loss will be handed over to a central team, which is expected to visit the two divisions of Madhya Pradesh on September 19, 20 and on September 23, 24.
"Earlier, it used to take around 20-50 days to calculate post-monsoon damage. But this year, tentative estimates of losses are ready due to three months of advance planning," he said.
Mohanty added that farmers will be compensated for the loss of crops under Section 64 of Revenue Book Circular. "Tenders have already been invited for road repair, which will start between September 20 and 30. The work is expected to be complete by November 30," he said. Earlier, the same work used to start by November-December and end in February-March.
Quoting the Met department, Mohanty said that Raisen, Sehore, Indore, Bhopal, Rajgarh, Mandsaur, Shajapur, Agar-Malwa, Neemuch, Ujjain, Jhabua and Ratlam districts have received more than average rainfall this season.
"Rainfall around Gandhi Sagar Dam in Mandsaur, which never crossed 55 inch in the last 12-13 years, has already touched 77 inch. Since the dam was constructed, average rainfall in the area has been 62 inch. The level recorded on Saturday was 1,318 feet, which is around six feet above Full Reservoir Level (FRL). Against inflow of 16 lakh cusec water, outflow was just 6.6 lakh cusec," said Mohanty while clearing rumours of threat to the dam. The backwaters have affected people of around 80 villages in Neemuch. Rescue operations are on. If no heavy rain is witnessed in the area for next few days, dam water will go below FRL," he added.
He added that state has so far received 33 per cent more rainfall than normal. "West MP has received more rainfall but some areas in eastern parts including Sidhi and Shahdol districts have reported deficiency in rainfall. "Overall average of 30 per cent more rainfall has been recorded in state so far," he said.