Normal monsoon for 11th successive year

For the monsoon period from June 1 to September 29, out of the 35 meteorogical sub-divisions in the country, 25 registered normal rainfall. Seven sub-divisions have reported deficient rainfall which includes Saurashtra and Kutch, West Rajasthan, Delhi-Chandigarh-Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Some of these, especially Saurashtra and Kutch, are reeling under drought-like conditions.

The monsoon data translated into the area-wise distribution shows that 74 per cent has received normal rainfall while 19 per cent has got deficient rains. Seven percent area of the country has got excess rainfall.

8220;It is true that the last two weeks have recorded very good rainfall over Gujarat, Saurashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka,8221; R R Kelkar, Director General of Meteorology, India Meteorlogical Department IMD told The Indian Express.

In fact, September proved comparatively better than previous months and had good rainfall. As a result, the long continuing deficiency in Rayalseema was made up, Kelkar added.

It may be noted that IMD had declared that rainfall over the country as a whole for the entire southwest monsoon season June 1 to September 30 would be around 108 per cent of its long period average of about 89 cm. The actual rainfall figure, however, stands close to 85 cm, reporting five per cent deficiency 8212; first time during last seven years.

So what went wrong this year? S C Gupta, director, IMD tries to explain the situation: 8220;This year the monsoon remained weak for longer durations. The start was good but gradually thescenario turned on the negative side.8221;

Normally, during the monsoon, meteorological systems develop in the Bay of Bengal and also in the Arabian Sea which move to the interiors and affect rainfall over northwest India and the western coastal region. This year the frequency of the systems was less and their intensity was very low. Thus, even those which did form, were not strong enough to affect rains, said Gupta.

A few systems formed in the Bay of Bengal, but they changed their normal course while moving towards the hills of Uttar Pradesh and in turn moved to Madhya Pradesh bringing heavy rainfall in the state, Gupta added. Thus the northwest region which includes Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Rajasthan were left dry.

G B Pant, director Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, says,8220; This year has not seen a uniform distribution of rainfall as last year but the data has to be studied in detail till we make any conclusions.8221;

As far as Rajasthan and Gujarat are concerned, Pant says that there has notbeen any noticeable aberration in the two states. 8220;Rainfall in these areas is less anyway. It comes in small spells and mainly depends on how it is distributed. For instance some parts like Assam and Bihar were flooded but other areas had less rainfall.8221;