While the seasonal rainfall for the entire country is 22% deficient, the week’s rainfall has ensured that Tamil Nadu has had marginally more rainfall than is usual. TN and Puducherry had 38.8mm of rainfall as of July 18, said a report from the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
This has ensured that the monthly rainfall level for the State has moved into the normal zone, with only a 7% deficit. The State has seen 76.4mm rainfall, which is a little short of the normal 82.2mm.
However, the neighbouring states seem to have no reprieve. South interior Karnataka, where most of the Cauvery catchment areas are, has a deficit of 50%. The area has received only 135.6mm rainfall as opposed to the normal level of 269.7mm for this month. Stating the situation so far in no uncertain terms, a press release from the PMO said, “The rainfall deficiency which existed at the end of June has lessened somewhat, but the intensity and spread of rainfall over the next week or so needs to be watched carefully, especially in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan.”
With the situation looking grim, the Central Government has prepared contingency plans to deal with the deficiency in case of drought conditions which seem impending. Funds to the tune of `4,524 crore are currently available under National Disaster Relief Fund. Plans to tackle other potential problem areas like agriculture, drinking water supply and animal husbandry are also in place, said the release.
The release also said that the 84 major reservoirs in the country were being closely monitored by the Central Water Commission.
Allaying fears of a country-wide water scarcity, it went on to say, “The current year storage is still 61% of last year storage and 78% normal ten-year average storage. However, the Ministry of Water Resources indicates that there is no real cause for concern as the reservoirs are now getting filled in the foothills of Himalayas, North-East and parts of south India.”
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