Monsoon expected to be normal, no need to be alarmist: Minister

NEW DELHI: Monsoon is expected to be normal in the coming weeks and there is no need to be 'alarmist', Union minister Jitendra Singh today said.

"The deficiency of monsoon in the first six weeks was 43 per cent. It has now gone down to 32 per cent. So, monsoon has increased by 11 per cent.

"In coming weeks, especially in central as well as northeast India, the forecast is that monsoon will be normal. We want to send a message to our countrymen that this is a good news and there is no need to become alarmist," Singh, the Minister of State for Earth Science, told reporters here.

In July, the country is likely to receive rainfall of 93 per cent of the Long Range Forecast (LPA), and "rainfall of 96 per cent of the LPA is expected in August," said Shailesh Nayak, Secretary in the Ministry of Earth Science (MoES).

Nayak, however, added that they would "also have to see the rainfall in the next few days of the month". The MeT department has already said that India would experience a deficient monsoon this year.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department, 96-104 per cent of the LPA means normal rainfall whereas 90-96 makes for below normal monsoon showers. Monsoon rainfall was deficient in June, but has picked up in July. "The rainfall looks good for the next three weeks till August 15. There is formation of a depression which will bring good rainfall," Nayak added.