Kolkata, Aug 2 (IANS) With rainfall deficit in West Bengal being recorded above 45 per cent in two consecutive months of June and July, the state Agriculture Department apprehends a famine-like situation unless there is enough rainfall in August to partially cover up the shortfall.According to the records of the state Agriculture and the Irrigation Departments, while the rainfall deficit had been recorded at 48 per cent in June, the figure came down slightly to 46 per cent in July. Veterans in the state Agriculture Department said that last time when such a severe rainfall deficit was witnessed in West Bengal was in 2010, though it never went over 40 per cent.According to agriculture expert and All India Kisan Sabha leader, Samar Ghosh, generally the time for sowing of Aman paddy is from middle of July to middle of August. Unless there is enough rainfall during that period, the seed-beds do not become suitable for sowing of seeds, he added. So, according to him, Gudha, who was in the BSP and later joined the Congress, said while addressing a school programme. However, he did not take anyone's name.Gudha, while answering the questions of the children of a private school in Udaipurwati in Jhunjhunu district, said "When the last Rajya Sabha elections were held, I was offered Rs 25 crores at that time for casting one vote for one person. I asked my wife that Rs 25 crores are being offered for casting just one vote. However, she said that we do not want money, your image will be tarnished.""Even during the rebellion in the Congress, I had an offer of Rs 60 crore. My son, daughter and wife said that we need respect, not money."Gudha is constantly making statements and official sources said that he is annoyed at getting a portfolio of less importance. Along with it, two MLAs who left the BSP and joined the Congress have expressed displeasure over not getting any post.
--IANS
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