Bhubaneswar (SunstarTV Bureau): Odisha witnessed monsoon rain deficit by 29 per cent between June 1 and August 31 which representing its sixth worst over in over a century. The cause behind represented as of global warming and climate change.
Reportedly, the State received cumulative 661.1 mm rainfall against its normal value of 935.8 mm this year, which leads towards a drought-like situation in the Odisha.
According to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), “This is the sixth occasion in last 120 years, when the southwest monsoon rainfall has been deficient by 20 % or more”.
The previous years that had recorded deficit rainfall by 29% or more are in 1924 (636.2 mm), 1954 (646.8 mm), 1974 ( 658.7 mm), 1987 (641.4 mm) and 1998 (657.5 mm).
The seasonal deficiency is mainly due to large deficit in August rainfall. Cumulative total rainfall realised over Odisha during August is 204.9 mm as against its normal value 366.4 mm (44 % deficient). Previously, the August month rainfall was less than 204.9 mm in the years 1965 (187.3 mm), 1987 (190.3 mm) and 1998 (203.5 mm) during the last 120 years, informed the MeT Centre.
In August, only four out of the 30 districts received normal rainfall while 18 districts were under deficient category. Eight districts: Boudh (-75%), Sambalpur and Sonepur (-68%), Angul and Balangir (-63%), Kandhamal (-62%), Bargarh and Jajpur (-61%) were under large deficient category.
However, the IMD predicted that the state would receive normal rainfall in September, the final month of monsoon season.
According to IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra,“The rainfall averaged over the country as a whole during September is most likely to be above normal Considering the expected above normal rainfall activity, the current deficiency of 9% in seasonal rainfall between June and August is very likely to reduce and accumulated seasonal rainfall between June 1 and September 30 is very likely to be around lower end of the normal.”
