Poor Monsoon rain in Northwest India has forced Haryana government to declare the state drought-affected and seek compensation of 4,829.25 crore rupees from the central government. The last time Haryana had declared drought was in the year 2002 when rainfall deficit was 51%.
This year the deficit seems to be even higher. As of today the rainfall deficit in the state stands at 64% with just 141.6 mm of rain being recorded against the average of 393.7 mm (from 1st June till date).
The onset of Southwest Monsoon in June was itself not good for country with 11 sub-divisions being scanty and 20 deficit. Haryana too met a similar fate with the deficit being 44%, marginally above the country deficit of 43%.
In July there was some good rain, particularly in Central and East India, which pulled down the deficit to 22%. But the regional deficit still remained high with Haryana observing a deficit of 46%. In August the rainfall deficit shot up to a whopping 80%.
Some good rain is expected in a couple of days but this spell of rain will not be of much help and the difference will still remain large. Southwest Monsoon will also start withdrawing from mid September, so the state is left with very less time to catch up with the deficit.
Meanwhile, the situation in neighboring Punjab is also alarming as the seasonal rainfall deficit stands at 64%, which means it’s scanty. The picture isn’t rosy in west Uttar Pradesh either where the deficit is 59%.
Picture courtesy: thehindu.com
