New Delhi, A boon for some, a bane for others: the southern Peninsula received heavy rain at many places this year, not only because of the cyclone Nilam but also due to the recurring storm like conditions developing in the Bay of Bengal. ‘Boon’ because the farmers of Tamil Nadu got enough water for their Rabi crop which otherwise could not have been possible from the weak northeast monsoon this year. ‘Bane’ because heavy rain along with the gusty winds (90kmph) during Nilam, uprooted acres of crops and flooded many villages, also leaving many homeless.
This year after the cyclone, rain in Tamil Nadu was recorded at 315.1mm which is extremely close to the normal digits of 315.2mm. Whereas Andhra Pradesh recorded an overflow of rain at 407mm compared to the normal average figure of 279.8mm, 46% over normal levels. Thus the heavy spells from the cyclonic development that hammered south India helped in a way to compensate for the gap which could have been created otherwise due to a faint monsoon and helped the digits reach very close to the normal level of rain recorded in the past years. Though even then, some places experienced a deficit. Pondicherry recorded 160.4mm of rainfall which is -12% less than the normal level of 182.8mm every year.
Tirupati recording an unusual (139.7mm) amount of rain in one day on Nov 22-23 and more rain expected tomorrow has put the farmers in a dilemma once again. Scientists and agriculturists advise storing the already harvested crops in dry places, making ‘bunds’ for crops that are already transplanted, to prevent them from getting uprooted and to leave the crops that are ready for harvesting as they are. They can be harvested as soon as the rain abates, i.e. in 48 hours.
It is noticed that it’s the farmer that faces the brunt even though such conditions are being forecast. Instead of organizing relief camps or introducing farmers plans only after the anomaly has struck, the authorities need to plan better and take due action to prevent damages caused in such situations.
