NEW DELHI: Overall monsoon rainfall in June ended with a 11% deficit, turned to surplus during July 5-10, but once again fell into negative zone by reporting 2.3% less than normal cumulative (June 1-July 11) rainfall as on Thursday.
This deficit will, however, soon be recovered as IMD predicted “widespread rainfall with heavy to very heavy falls” along the West Coast and heavy spell over central, east & northeast India till July 17.”Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra and Coastal Karnataka during July 12-15,” it said in its forecast on Thursday.
The current overall deficit of 2.3% is mainly due to 7.5% of less than normal rainfall in central India and 4.5% of deficit rainfall in east & northeast India. Surplus rainfall of 8.6% in peninsular India and 1.4% in northwest India has, however, not only reduced the countrywide deficit to 2.3% but also improved the water storage situation in reservoirs in these regions.
As a result, live water storage available in 150 key reservoirs increased to 22% of total live storage capacity of these reservoirs on July 4 from 20% on June 27. “Water storage situation will gradually improve as the remaining period of the monsoon season is expected to receive fairly good rainfall,” said an official of Central Water Commission.
Good rains in the last fortnight in several parts of the country also helped speed up the ongoing sowing operations of Kharif crops. It brought the overall acreage as on July 5 to the level which was 14% more than the last year.
This deficit will, however, soon be recovered as IMD predicted “widespread rainfall with heavy to very heavy falls” along the West Coast and heavy spell over central, east & northeast India till July 17.”Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra and Coastal Karnataka during July 12-15,” it said in its forecast on Thursday.
The current overall deficit of 2.3% is mainly due to 7.5% of less than normal rainfall in central India and 4.5% of deficit rainfall in east & northeast India. Surplus rainfall of 8.6% in peninsular India and 1.4% in northwest India has, however, not only reduced the countrywide deficit to 2.3% but also improved the water storage situation in reservoirs in these regions.
As a result, live water storage available in 150 key reservoirs increased to 22% of total live storage capacity of these reservoirs on July 4 from 20% on June 27. “Water storage situation will gradually improve as the remaining period of the monsoon season is expected to receive fairly good rainfall,” said an official of Central Water Commission.
Good rains in the last fortnight in several parts of the country also helped speed up the ongoing sowing operations of Kharif crops. It brought the overall acreage as on July 5 to the level which was 14% more than the last year.
