The southwest monsoon is trailing by 18 per cent of normal in the country during the first three weeks with the maximum deficit in central India, where the onset of rainfall has been delayed.
According to the figures from India Meteorological Department (IMD), the country has so far received 85.5 mm as against the normal of 103.8 mm. While Central India is reeling under a deficiency of 37 percent, the Eastern and Northeastern parts of the country is facing 25 percent deficit. The Southern Peninsula has so far received 124.5 mm as against the long Period Average (lPA) of 108.6mm, registering a surplus of 15 per cent. North West India has also received 3 per cent rain in excess of its average.
The IMD has, however, predicted good rains from certain northwestern parts of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and adjoining areas from June 26 to July 10. The conditions are also favourable for further advance of Southwest Monsoon into remaining parts of West Madhya Pradesh, West Uttar Pradesh, most parts of Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi and Punjab and some parts of East Rajasthan during next 3-4 days.
Weather experts in IMD further noted that monsoon is likely to withdraw from India later than usual this year, with a vigorous spell of rains towards the tail end of the season that normally ends in September. The deficiency in June rains will also narrow in the days to come.
Meanwhile, the water level in 91 major reservoirs in the country remained at around 15 per cent of their total capacity for the second consecutive week. According to figures from the Ministry of Water Resources, 23.202 billion cubic metre (BCM) of water was available in these reservoirs for the current week. During the previous week too, the water available in these reservoirs was 23.786 BCM.