Karwar: Rainwater flowing on the roads due to accumulation of silt in drains is a common sight in urban areas during monsoon. But this time, the district administration has ordered officials to take up desilting of drains in urban areas.

As a result, about 70 per cent of the drains have been cleaned up in the district. The municipal councils "drain cleaning drive" is going  on war-footing. This year, the district has not received good pre-monsoon rains. It received 158 mm rainfall in the last two months as against the average rainfall of 199 mm.

Sowing of seeds has been completed in 27,542 hectares out of the targeted area of 81,500 hectares (35 per cent). Farmers in Mundagod, Haliyal and Banavasi have already sown seeds. Paddy, cotton, maize and sugarcane are the main crops of the district. Most of the farmers grow paddy as the area normally receives heavy rainfall.

According to the Agriculture Department, sowing usually picks up after June 15.