Though copious rains in the last few weeks helped Andhra Pradesh achieve averages in rainfall, the distribution of rainfall is not uniform.

The Cauvery eco-system is in deep trouble with the current year being one of the worst drought years that the river has witnessed.

The delta region, known as ‘Marudha Nilam’, can no longer have that nomenclature as it is now shorn of Marudu trees, a native plant. The ‘minimum viable population’ (MVP) size of this tree has gone down and has become virtually an ‘endangered species’. Frequent loss of flows in the river over the past four decades has resulted in gradual degradation of the eco-system, laments K.V.Krishnamurthy, former Head of the Department of Botany, Bharathidasan University, considered an authority on the Cauvery’s flora and fauna.

Farmers in Odisha affected by last year's drought and floods would get compensation of Rs 657.32 crore as crop insurance.

Oslo The US reaffirmed support for a UN goal of limiting global warming after criticism from the European Union and small island states that Washington seemed to be backing away. The US continues to support this goal. We have not changed our policy, US climate envoy Todd Stern said in a statement on Wednesday.

Almost 200 nations, including the US, have agreed to limit rising temperatures to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times to avoid dangerous changes such as floods, droughts and rising sea levels.

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Wednesday said the State government has sought Rs. 11,489 crore from the Centre for drought relief measures.

Participating in a meet-the-press programme organised by the Press Club of Bangalore and the Bangalore Reporters’ Guild here on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said the assistance sought from the Centre was in the form of two separate memorandums: a sum of Rs. 7,672 crore for immediate relief measures and Rs. 3,817 crore for long-term measures.

Even as the Gujarat government initiated the process of declaring a large part of the State drought-hit in the wake of the monsoon continuing to play truant, the Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada river started overflowing on Wednesday following heavy rains in its catchment areas in Madhya Pradesh.

A high-level Cabinet sub-committee headed by Finance Minister Vajubhai Vala which assessed the situation has come to the conclusion that scarcity conditions prevailed in at least 152 of the 225 talukas across 22 of the 26 districts in the State, which till the first week of August had received less than 150 mm of rainfall.

152 Of 225 Talukas Affected, State To Seek . 18k Crore From Centre

Gandhinagar: A high-level cabinet sub-committee on Tuesday declared more than half of Gujarat – 152 talukas out of 225 – scarcity-hit.
The committee, headed by finance minister Vajubhai Vala, concluded that scarcity condition prevailed in all these talukas as they have received less than 150 mm rainfall. A government resolution (GR) declaring these talukas as scarcity-hit is being prepared.Relief work for the affected population will begin in these talukas, where cheaper fodder and agricultural subsidies will be provided.

It emphasises growing less water-intensive crops, fodder during low rainfall and soil testing

The University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) has come up with a contingency crop plan for southern Karnataka to tackle drought. UAS Vice-Chancellor Dr K Narayana Gowda said the contingency crop plan submitted to the State government lays stress on growing alternative crops and cultivating choices that are in tune with rainfall and soil fertility in the region. “The focus of the plan is on south interior Karnataka as the region accounts for a major share of State’s agriculture production. Moreover,

JAIPUR: The state government on Monday extended the status of scarcity affected areas to 3739 villages of 11 districts. These villages were given this status due failed rabi crop but the extension has been given after witnessing deficient rainfall. The relief activities in these districts villages will now continue till August 15, 2012.

Earlier in March, due to failure of Rabi crop 'scarcity affected' was declared in Ajmer, Barmer, Churu, Nagaur and Jaisalmer districts.

The percentage of the earth’s land surface covered by extreme heat in the summer has soared in recent decades, from less than 1 percent in the years before 1980 to as much as 13 percent in recent y