The Cabinet has declared Madhesh Province a disaster-affected area for three months due to prolonged drought and water scarcity.
The Government of Nepal has declared Madhesh Province a disaster-affected region for a period of three months, citing severe drought conditions. The decision was made during an emergency Cabinet meeting held today, in accordance with the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act.
This move follows an earlier declaration by the Madhesh provincial government on Asar 26, which had designated the region as drought-hit due to delayed monsoon rains.
The late arrival of the monsoon in the Tarai-Madhesh region has severely impacted rice cultivation. Most farmers have not been able to transplant paddy, and fields that were planted are now cracking due to lack of water. Wells and tube wells have dried up, severely affecting both drinking water supply and irrigation systems.
According to the Department of Agriculture, only 46% of the paddy fields in Madhesh have been transplanted so far — a significant shortfall compared to normal planting rates.
In response to the crisis, the Ministry of Home Affairs has directed Chief District Officers to take immediate action, while the Ministry of Agriculture has decided to deploy a study team to explore both short-term relief measures and long-term solutions to address the drought and its impacts.
This article was originally published on https://bajarkochirfar.com. Translated with the help of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
