[Provided by North Gyeongsang Province]
[Provided by North Gyeongsang Province]

North Gyeongsang Province will deploy 5.07 billion won ($3.62 million) in special disaster safety grants to address a persistent rainfall shortage, even after parts of the province received more than 80 millimeters of rain over the Liberation Day holiday on Sunday and Monday — an amount authorities deemed insufficient to break the drought.

The province's cumulative rainfall this year stands at 570.0 millimeters, just 74.5 percent of the historical average of 764.7 millimeters, according to provincial officials Thursday. Agricultural reservoir levels have fallen to 46.7 percent of capacity, or 67.1 percent of the normal level of 69.6 percent, placing the province in the "attention" stage of drought monitoring.

The Korea Meteorological Administration's one-month drought outlook projects below-average precipitation through mid-September, with meteorological drought conditions possible in some parts of the province, underscoring the need for continued management.

Of the newly secured special grants, 4.92 billion won will go toward securing agricultural water supplies.

The province plans to focus spending on cities and counties hardest hit by drought, fast-tracking projects that can deliver water quickly — including installing temporary pumping stations and weirs, operating pumping equipment, excavating riverbeds, leasing water tanker trucks and drilling bedrock wells — to minimize damage to farming operations.

The remaining 150 million won will be directed to residential water supply, covering dredging of water intake towers and emergency water distribution.

"We will monitor the drought situation in real time and swiftly deploy the administrative and fiscal support needed," said Kim Sang-cheol, director of the province's safety administration office. "We will respond proactively to ensure there are no disruptions to agricultural or residential water supply, and minimize harm to residents."


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com