Monsoon pushes ahead, to hit Delhi early

This has dispelled fears of deficient rainfall in June, with the average cumulative rainfall in the country rising to 29 per cent above normal in the period ending June 16.

This year, the monsoon arrived two weeks early in the northeastern and southern parts of the country, on May 16/17. And, it pushed the average rainfall in the month to 161.6 mm, 25 per cent above the normal. This trend suffered with the average rainfall in the first week of July declining. But good rains in the second week of July raised the average cumulative rainfall to 29 per cent above normal.

The India Meteorological Department in its recent bulletin has said: ‘‘Conditions are favourable for further advancement of the South West Monsoon into remaining parts of Himachal Pradesh, some more parts of west Uttar Pradesh and northern parts of Punjab and Haryana within next two days.’’

The IMD’s indications are clear that monsoon is likely to arrive in Delhi ahead of its normal date of June 29, if not within the next two days.

Early monsoon has raised water storage in 71 major reservoirs to 115 per cent above the storage level in the corresponding period last year. Encouraged by the rains, farmers have gone for early sowing of crops. This has resulted in an increase in area coverage under various kharif crops like rice, cotton, maize, bajra, groundnut, sunflower, soyabean and pulses.

But less sugarcane has been sown — planted in over 1.7 lakh hectare as compared to 1.9 lakh hectare last year. This is due to lower area coverage in UP where farmers are facing the problems of cane payment.

If the rainfall in June and July turns out to be good, it would result in a bumper harvest, pushing the GDP growth to the level of 7 to 8 per cent and increase rural income.