With 90 per cent rain deficit, Kerala stares at drought

NDRF personnel carry out search and rescue operation, in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, on Sunday. Pic/PTI

Even as the southwest monsoon hit Kerala's shores on June 8, the progress of the rains since then has been abysmal with the threat of drought looming large over the state.

Kerala has received only 877.1 mm of rainfall against an estimated 1,556 mm between June 1 and August 15, causing a shortage of 44 per cent of rain, according to weather reports.

From August 1 to August 15, the state received only 25.1 mm rainfall instead of the expected 254.6 mm and this led to around 90 per cent deficit. In Kerala, the monsoon generally touches the peak during August. Now, the state is staring at a massive drought. The IMD has also predicted that Kerala will not get rain for the next 15 days. Things are not rosy in September either. Of the 2,018.7 mm average monsoon rainfall, September accounts for only 13 per cent.

Paddy farming to take hit

Sources in the Kerala government told IANS that the state is relying mainly on the southwest monsoon for farming and if the rains play hide and seek, paddy farming will take a hit.

Dr R Rajeev, who retired from a national weather agency, said, "There is a drought-like condition in Kerala and the possibility of heavy rain making up the pre-sent losses is bleak. We are expecting showers in September and it has to be seen how much effective they will be, given the present weather conditions in the Pacific.

Legal action against 21 dam managements in HP

The Himachal Pradesh government has found that 21 out of the 23 dams in the state have violated safety norms, and said it will take action against their managements.
Officials said the lack of monitoring by government agencies is also being blamed for the violations.

Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena told PTI on Sunday that officers have been directed to prepare a detailed report on the damage caused due to the negligence of the dam authorities.

The officials said the HP State Electricity Board-operated Larji hydropower project in Mandi and Jateon in Sirmaur, and the HP Power Corporation-run Sawra Kuddu project in Shimla and Sainj in Kullu are among the violators.

The flooding in low-lying areas in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh has been attributed to the release of water from the Pong, Pandoh and Malana dams, the officials added.
The officials said only the Kol Dam in Bilaspur and the Karcham Wangtoo project in Kinnaur adhered to the water release guidelines.

Centre gives HP Rs 200 crore

Meanwhile, the Centre on Sunday approved the release of Rs 200 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund as advance assistance to Himachal Pradesh to help with relief measures for affected people.

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