Indian Meteorological Department now predicts bountiful September rains

NEW DELHI: The spurt in rains prompted weather office to change its forecast for the September rains. It now says that rainfall in September will be better than expected. In its earlier forecasts, weather office had predicted a dry September marred by El Nino weather pattern - known to disrupt rains.

“There is improvement in rainfall and it will be better in September than forecast earlier,” said Laxman Singh Rathore, director general, Indian Meteorological Department ( IMD).

The week ending August 29 has seen the heaviest rainfall of the season with rains for the first time crossing the normal limits. Rains were 6 per cent above average in the past week – drastically improved from the previous week when it was 2 per cent below average. It has narrowed down the overall rain deficit to 12%.

The improvement rainfall situation has eased the fears of drought in most parts of the country. It has also brightened the prospects of a better kharif output than was expected in July when the rainfall deficit was around 20%.

It has also improved the water storage capacity of 84 major reservoirs of the country filling them to 61%, which equals 10 year average. The reservoirs were on the brink of drying up in the month of June when the rain deficit was alarming at 29%.

“Rains have helped rice and oilseeds and expanded the acreage of coarse cereals. We are expecting better harvest,” said Ashish Bahuguna, agriculture secretary.