Drought looms over Rajasthan as 23 districts received deficit rains

With delayed monsoon, drought is likely to hit the desert state of Rajasthan as 23 districts received deficit rains and six received scanty rainfall during June 1 to July 26 period, a Met department report said on Sunday.

Since June 1 this year, Rajasthan received 130.63 mm of rainfall as against 280 mm in the corresponding months of 2013, and this time it is minus 40.19 per cent, the statistic report of Met department said.

Normal rains with a standard above 19 per cent occurred only in four out of 33 districts in the state at Baran, Sikar, Bharatpur, and Churu. Scanty precipitation was reported in six districts of Bundi, Dausa, Tonk, Sirohi, Jaisalmer, and Jodhpur.

Twenty three districts including Jaipur, Bikaner, Srigangangar, Hanumangarh, Jalore, Barmer, Pali, Ajmer, Nagaur, Bhilwara, Dholpur, Karauli, Kota, Jhalawar, Udaipur, Banswara, Dungarpur, Rajsamand fell under the category of deficit rains.

Last year in 2013, there were 4 districts in the abnormal rainfall category, followed by 11 districts in excess rainfall, 13 in normal, and 5 in deficit category.

Though the southwest monsoon had bebgun in the state from Bikaner side on July 3, delayed by ten days from the normal arrival, its aggressive nature was still lacking, a senior Met official said.

Due to poor rainfall, the catchment areas were still dry, and out of 724 dams, only seven were showing full level of water, while 467 were empty, and 250 received partial rain water, the report said.

In view of scanty rains and apprehension of drought, the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly has earmarked August 1 for discussion and debate on drought after passing of the annual budget on July 30, a business advisory committee which met on July 25 had decided.

The prospects of better Kharif production, specially of bajra, cereals, and legumes, would be bleak as the sowing of crops was delayed by over a month, a state agriculture department official said.