Kerala declared drought-hit state Monday Oct 31,2016

The Kerala government has declared the entire state drought-hit, with all 14 districts witnessing successive monsoon failures. 

The northeast monsoon may have just set in, but even if it were to rain heavily in November and December, it would not be enough to make up for the past deficiencies. 

State Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan made the announcement in the State Assembly on Monday Oct 31,2016 while replying to a notice for an adjournment motion. 

“There has been 34 per cent rainfall during the southwest monsoon. The northeast monsoon, which has set in after a delay, has started off with a 69 % deficit with hardly any rain in October.”

He said the State Disaster Management Authority had met under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday and decided to declare the entire State drought-hit. 

Reservoir levels are at least 22 % lower than the average. Any significant shortfall in rainfall during the northeast monsoon could lead to power supply restrictions in the state. 

The declaration of drought also means that a provision of a moratorium kicks in with respect to agricultural loans, including those drawn from cooperative banks, the minister said. 

The state government will seek Central aid to overcome the brewing crisis.

 District collectors have been given a 26-point protocol to be followed to undertake drought-relief measures. 

The State Disaster Management Agency had earlier completed the process of evaluating various parameters for declaring a drought in various districts. 

4 key indices, including rainfall deficiency, area under sowing, normalised difference vegetation index (decline in green cover), and moisture adequacy are weighed in before precipitating a decision in the matter, they added.