New Delhi, June 2: Already hit by an agrarian crisis and farmer suicides, there was more bad news for the country with predictions of a “deficient” monsoon this year, raising fears of a drought.
“I have to say this with a heavy heart that as per our revised forecast, India will receive 88 per cent of rainfall of the Long Period Average plus or minus 4 per cent,” minister for earth sciences Harsh Vardhan said Tuesday.
The Met department Tuesday revised its forecast from 93 per cent to 88 per cent Long Period Average, with north-west region of the country expected to be hit the most. In April, the IMD had forecast that monsoon rains would be 93 per cent of the average, which is categorised as “below normal”. Now, with the revised projection of 88 per cent, the monsoon is categorized as “deficient”.
“We have been working to ensure that the forecast is right. But this time let’s pray to God that the revised forecast does not come true,” said the minister. When asked whether it could be a drought year, he said his department only predicts about the weather and refused to go into other aspects.
Already, the country has witnessed farmer suicides in some states. After unseasonal rains earlier this year, the Prime Minister had announced relaxation of norms of compensation for loss of crops due to natural calamities. The minister said that in the last Cabinet meeting, Modi had already asked different ministries and departments to gear up for such an exigency.
The north-west region which includes Delhi NCR, Haryana, Western UP and Rajasthan will be hit as per the forecast, with it receiving around 85 per cent of rainfall of the LPA. PTI
