Drought year stares Orissa as monsoon plays truant

Economic Times, July 22, 2010
BHUBANESWAR: Orissa seems to be heading for yet another drought year if the monsoon trend so far is any indication. Scanty monsoon rains and soaring mercury levels have led to sweltering heat in Orissa, with most places recording maximum temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius.

And there seems to be no relief in sight as the metrological centre here said the southwest monsoon has been subdued over the state and may play truant in the coming days.

June ended with state deficit of nearly 22-35% rainfall. Normally, July is the month of highest rainfall in several districts, where the average rainfall per day in July is 10 to 12 mm. But the month did not begin with a smile. In July rainfall continues to be deficit from the beginning. By now the state experiences about 121 mm rainfall in July in normal monsoon conditionsagainst which the state has received about 83 mm.

“Considering cumulative June and July rainfall, only three districts, namely Cuttack, Malkangiri and Nayagarh received excess rainfall. Eighteen districts are deficient, of which, Nuapara, Kalahandi, Bolangir, Gajapati, Angul and Kendrapara received much lower rainfall, just sufficient to meet the evapotranspiration. Except Kendrapara all other coastal districts have received normal or excess rainfall”, Prof S Pasupalak, Agrometeorologist based at Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology [Ouat] on Thursday told “The ET”.

He, however, admitted that the district average could be misleading. “For example, there are some blocks in Mayurbhanj and Baragarh where rainfall is quite deficit, although districts per se are not. This is because of absence of even a single widespread rainfall in the current year”, he added. .

The capital city had some rains on Thursday and around July 25; the rains are expected thanks to the low pressure, likely to be created south of Orissa.

“But it is likely to stay close to the coast and shall turn to an extended circulation over the land from the south Orissa to Chhatisgarh on North West direction. This would not favour Orissa”, Mr Pasupalak added sang that the rainfall will continue from Sunday up to next five days.

“But it is likely to be scattered to fairly wide spread without widespread moderate or heavy rainfall. Moderate rainfall is expected only at some places. At least 75 mm water is required for puddling, a prerequisite for rice seedlings to transplant. It means 100 mm rainfall is required in a week. But widespread rainfall of this amount is not likely to occur in next seven days. As result rice operations would be delayed”, Mr Pasupalak predicts.