JOIN USWith scanty rainfall, all the 38 districts in the state have been declared drought-hit and a special financial assistance of Rs 5,062 crore has been sought from the Centre.
But before the Central fiscal aid pours in, Muslims in the state, for the last fortnight, have been offering special prayers during the holy month of Ramzan-ul-Mubarak pleading rain gods to have mercy.
A sizeable section of Muslims in villages of Phulwarisharif and Khagaul are farmers who eke out their living by growing fresh vegetables. “For the last four years, we have either faced flood or drought in succession. Therefore, Muslims of our area have started offering special prayers to mitigate the sufferings of those farmers combating drought,” said Naushad showing his parched land.
“Another problem being faced by the farmers is the silt carried during the 2007 and 2008 Kosi floods. This has rendered the agriculturally-productive land infertile,” rued Ezaz Ahmad, adding that the deficient rainfall would be a double whammy for those who used to transplant rice seedlings in whatever cultivable land they have been left with.