Patna, July 3: Expressing concern over the rainfall deficit so far this monsoon, chief minister Nitish Kumar today assured people of taking necessary steps if there is a drought- like situation.

“We are concerned over the monsoon (poor rainfall) and have been keeping tabs on the situation through various rounds of review meetings. The government has provided diesel subsidy to farmers to protect seedlings. If farmers can protect the seedlings, the government will provide diesel subsidy for irrigation,” Nitish told reporters after emerging out of the cabinet meeting.

The requirement of water is more in the transplantation stage than during sowing of paddy.

The lull in monsoon this year has set off the alarm for farmers involved in kharif crop production.

Though crops are grown in both irrigated and rain-fed conditions, most farmers in the state claim that irrigation sources cannot replace monsoon rainfall in case of paddy cultivation.

The farmers consider the rain water more nutrient than the irrigation water. Experts have issued a warning that the situation could turn “disastrous” if it does not rain within the next few days.

Expressing hope that there would be rain in the near future, Nitish said the agriculture department officers had been asked to prepare a contingency plan if the current phase of monsoon persists in the state. There would not be paucity of funds, he said.

The chief minister parried the question on the alleged large-scale corruption in the allotment of diesel subsidy. Several farmers claimed that they did not get the benefit of the government’s scheme.