Despite heavy rains after the second half of August and first week of September, which caused floods across Bihar, Kerala, Assam and Gujarat, and also in Bengaluru, as many as 254 districts are faced with drought like situation this monsoon.
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the rain deficiency is recorded 9 per cent till September 16. The rain deficient is expected to go up in the coming days when the southwest monsoon will start withdrawing from the next week. The monthly deficit has increased from 5 per cent in June, to 6 per cent in July and 7.6 per cent in August. According to agriculture ministry, if 20-40 per cent of the State receives deficient rainfall, it will be declared as "deficient year". If it goes beyond 40 per cent, it will be declared a "largely deficient year".
The States like Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalya, Bihar, west Rajasthan, Gujarat, North-East and parts of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have witnessed below normal rains.
"As against a normal rainfall of 819.7 mm, the country has received 743.8 mm rainfall, thereby registering a rainfall departure of minus 9 per cent till September 16," according to IMD officials.
The IMD data shows Arunachal Pradesh recorded rain deficiency up to 30 per cent; Assam 20 per cent; Meghalaya 38 per cent; Manipur 54 percent; Tripura 20 percent; West Bengal 19 percent; Jharkhand 24 per cent; Bihar 20 per cent; Haryana 20 per cent; Punjab 18 per cent; Gujarat 23 per cent; Saurashtra & Kutch 29 per cent; Marathwada division 15 per cent; Vidarbha 7 per cent; Andhra Pradesh 11 per cent; Rayalseema 45 per cent; Tamil Nadu 14 per cent; Puducherry 20 per cent and North Karnataka 26 per cent. The data shows more than 40 per cent districts in South India witnessed deficient rainfall this monsoon season. Of the 125 districts in the region, 54 reported deficient rainfall and another two were "largely" deficient. The worst hit State by deficient rainfall in South India was Tamil Nadu. Of its 32 districts, 20 received deficient rainfall while one reported large deficiency.
In West Bengal, rain deficiency is recorded 56 per cent in Dakshin Dinajpur; Darjeeling 18 per cent; Kooch Bihar 41 per cent; Malda 39 percent; Murshidabad 51 percent; Hugli 27 per cent; Nadia 20 per cent; South 24 Parganas 15 per cent and Uttar Dinajpur 39 per cent.
In Bihar, of the 38 districts, 24 witnessed rain deficient this monsoon. As per data, rain deficiency in Arariya recorded 21 per cent; Arwal 30 per cent; Begu Sarai 26 percent; Bhojpur 33 per cent; Darbhanga 28 per cent; Jehanabad 33 per cent; Jamui 31 per cent; Katihar 34 per cent; Khagria 36 per cent; Muzzaffarpur 41 per cent; Patna 27 per cent and east Champaran 32 per cent.
The rain deficiency in Devbhoomi Dwarka recorded 42 per cent; Jamnagar 29 per cent; Kachchh 62 per cent; Morbi 51 per cent; Porbandar 28 and Rajkot 30 per cent in Saurashtra and Kutch sub division. Similarly, rain deficiency in Ananthapur, Chittoor, Cuddapah and Kurnool in Rayalseema recorded 33 percent, 41 per cent, 60 per cent and 46 per cent respectively.
In Assam and Meghalya sub division, districts like Baksa, Barpeta, Dhubri, Bongaigaon, Goalpare have faced rain deficiency up to 20 to 40 per cent till date. Interestingly, some parts of the Assam is faced floods which affected 1,42,335 people in the State. Arunachal Pradesh, which was once touted as India's hydroelectric powerhouse, has also been left wanting more. The State witnessed the highest deficit of 34 per cent rainfall, recording 936.3 mm rainfall (actual) against the normal average of 1,423.8 mm. Anjaw (-10 per cent), Changlang (-15 per cent), East Kameng (-50 per cent) West Kameng (-44 per cent), Tirap (-66 per cent) and lohit (-44 per cent) are among those districts which received less rain this year.
In Manipur, deficiency of rain in Churachandpur is recorded 66 per cent, Chandel ( -66) Imphal East (-30 per cent), Senapati (-47 per cent), Tamenglong (-74 per cent) and Champhai (-45 per cent).
Out of total 36 sub-divisions, as many as 24 have witnessed normal rains, while 10 continue to remain rain-deficient and two sub division has recorded excess rains. In other words, of the total 681 districts, 254 have witnessed less monsoon or rain deficient while 319 have recorded normal rains. There are 76 districts which recorded excess rains while 13 recorded large excess rains till date. July and August, the rainiest months of the season, together account for nearly 70 per cent of monsoon rainfall, and are crucial to the rain-fed agricultural areas.
IMD officials said that the Met Department mandate is to say whether the rainfall is normal or deficient. "Interpretation is the job of the State Government," said IMD officials.