September 27, 2008	Saturday	Ramazan 26, 1429

MITHI, Sept 26: Most of the areas in Tharparkar district are facing a drought-like situation as the second spell of monsoon is still awaited.

The situation, if persists for another few days, is likely to result in a mass exodus of people to other areas in search of livelihood.

According to reports received from various areas, around 80 per cent villages of the four talukas in Thar including, Mithi, Diplo, Nagarparkar, and Chhachhro, have not yet received rains expected during the second spell of the monsoon due to which crops have been withering in the field and a threat of severe food shortage is imminent.

It would be pertinent to mention here that around three to four spells of rain that too ranging between 150 millimeter and 200 millimeter are required for maturity of crops in Thar.

Observers may recall that during the last week of July and first week of August of the current year, the area had received adequate rains that had motivated the local growers to buy seeds on higher rates so as to cultivate their lands. However, despite a lapse of more than seven weeks, a major portion of the four talukas of Thar have not yet received a single drop of rain, which is likely to frustrate the efforts made by the local growers after the first spell of monsoons.

If the situation persists, it is feared that a large number of people along with their cattle will have to move to other areas in search of livelihood.

The farmers have urged the government to take notice of the prevailing situation and to initiate appropriate relief measures to minimize the impact of a possible drought.

DISPLACED: Members of the Meghwar community from Kasbo village of Nagarparkar taluka, whose houses have allegedly been occupied by influential Kolhis at the behest of a local wadera, have appealed to the government to take notice of their displacement from their ancestral houses and to initiate action against those who had forcibly occupied their houses.

Geno, son of Desro and Paru, son of Bhuro, said that their families had been living in their ancestral houses for generations.