IMD, Revenue dept differ on rain forecast

IMD, Revenue dept differ on rain forecast
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The government and IMD calculations of the rainfall data in the state has become controversial. According to statistics with the government, nine districts out of 13 in the state have received normal rainfall. But, the situation is different at the ground level.

Visakhapatnam: The government and IMD calculations of the rainfall data in the state has become controversial. According to statistics with the government, nine districts out of 13 in the state have received normal rainfall. But, the situation is different at the ground level.

The IMD is collecting the rainfall data by setting up the devices every 100 km radius. In north Andhra region there are three rainfall measurement centres at Kalingapatnam, Visakhapatnam and Tuni calculating the three districts actual rainfall. Meanwhile, the revenue department is collecting the rainfall data from the mandal headquarters.

However, the revenue department data is also mismatching with the ground-level realities. With the poor monsoons, the kharif crops including paddy, cotton and groundnut have been badly affected in the state.

Though the IMD is saying that normal rainfall registered in nine districts, large extent of farmers in the coastal districts almost lost their hopes due to the less rainfall. Meanwhile, with the deficit rainfall, farmers in the four Rayalaseema districts are looking at the sky for rains. The cotton and groundnut farmers left their fields and urging the government for kind of help.

Though the southwest monsoon well set in June first week across the state, the farmers with big hopes geared up for kharif cultivation. However, even in the first week of August several districts have been suffering with less rainfall.

According to the southwest monsoon calendar, in June the normal rainfall 92 mm and 122 MM registered, while in July the normal rainfall is 151 mm and registered less falls with 114 mm. Though the atmosphere is tempting with cloudy sky, there are no rains in the first week of August. In fact, from August 1 to 7 the normal rainfall is 32 mm, but registered just 21 mm.

According to the statistics of the agriculture department the paddy crop was to be cultivated in an extent of 11.5 lakh ha in kharif season. However, sowing and seedlings works were completed in 50 per cent of extent only in the state.

“Yes, less rainfall registered in several districts against the normal falls. We are collecting the data from the mandal headquarters and announcing the average rainfall of the area. It does not mean that all the villages in the mandal received good rainfall.

We are getting reports that the kharif works are not started due to the poor monsoon rains. We are ascertaining the ground-level facts. There will be a meeting on the issue by this week-end,” said a senior official of Revenue department.

The normal and actual rainfall from June 1 to August 7 in CMs

District Normal Actual
Srikakulam 359 354
Viziangaram 343 290
Visakhapatnam 360 357
East Godavari 407 414
West Godavari 414 433
Krishna 344 391
Guntur 261 290
Prakasam 168 161
Nellore 166 165
Chittoor 216 170
Kadapa 194 148
Anathapur 147 101
Kurnool 221 176

Above -19 % to 59 % rainfall over normal is deficient rainfall.

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