Kathmandu, Aug. 22 -- Erratic and deficient rainfall and depleted groundwater levels could have led to the drought conditions affecting the Madhesh province in the south-eastern Terai region, a new report by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), stated.

According to a study carried out jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and ICIMOD, which mapped 21 districts in the southern belt of the country, focusing specifically on rice cultivation, delayed rainfall along with depleting groundwater levels and gaps in water supply infrastructure could lead to an acute water crisis for the province in the coming years.

Earlier in July, due to the severity of drought conditions, the governme...