Longer break of monsoon triggers worries in rain-scanty Gujarat: IMD predicts some respite this week

Gandhinagar: Gujarat, which has so far received only a little above one fourth of its total average monsoon rainfall, facing a deficit of around 47 % in this regard, is likely to get some relief this week as met department has forecast heavy to very heavy rain in the state on July 26 and 27.

Till this morning,the state has so far received only 25.92 % rain this monsoon. Kutch, East-Central Gujarat, North Gujarat, Saurashtra and South Gujarat which are in ascending order with respect to rains received so far have got 12.16%, 23.19%, 23. 63%, 24.91%, and 28.60% repectively.

The Kharif crops including main ones like cotton and groundnut which have seen an average sowing this year around with over 90 % in mainy districts of Saurashtra also desperately wait for a few rounds of showers at the earliest to save it.

Met Department forecast for July 26 says – owing to an upper air cyclonic circulation over neighbouring Western Madhya Pradesh, heavy rains are very likely at isolated places over Gujarat region while that for July 27 says – Heavy to very heavy rains very likely at isolated places over Gujarat region, Saurashtra and Kutch.

Sporadic rains have also been forecast for today at some places while in last 24 hours only 75 talukas of 27 districts across the state witnessed rains with Shahera of Panchmahal district in central Gujarat getting the maximum downpour of 130 mm.

The Agriculture Officer of Junagadh, one of the prominent Groundnut and Cotton growing districts of Gujarat, Dr Babria today said that of the total 3 lakh 40 thousand hectares of cultivable land in the district, 3 lakh 27 thousand and 103 hectares have been sown this Kharif season. ‘Sowing is very good owing to the timely arrival of rains but the farmers need some more spells of rains immediately to save the crops,’ he said.

The delayed rains have also taken a toll on farmers with the reports of at least two cultivators committing suicide in Amreli district of Saurashtra owing to the said fear of crop failure in the wake of unpredictable rains. 40 year old farmer of Ambardi village Gordhan Savaliya had consumed poison in Detad village yesterday while on July 13, a 37 year old farmer had hanged himself for similar reason.

As per official figures of the Water supply department as on July 14, live water storage in 204 dams including Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam was about 8,347.59 million cubic meters (MCM) which was about 40 per cent of design gross storage capacity of 21,040.08 MCM. This can’t be said a very good storage situation. The State has still over 10 % of live water storage in its reservoirs.

However apart from the forecast of some rains across the state this week, the other silver-lining is the claims of weather officials who say this is a La Nina year in which rains are generally recorded in August and September.

Agriculture Director of Gujarat B R Shah said that a meeting to review the rain and related scenario will be held today and appropriate measures would be initiate accordingly.

DeshGujarat