Bengaluru: South west monsoon has little in store for Karnataka with the overall rainfall deficit in state at 23 per cent. Out of 29 districts in the state, rainfall is deficient in 21 districts and normal in the rest.
Given the prevailing conditions, Karnataka State Natural Disaster Management Centre (KSNDMC) Director G.S. Srinivas Reddy says the situation at the same time last year was much better, which was subsequently declared as a drought year.
Sharing inputs with DC, Srinivas said "South interior Karnataka which includes regions like Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Urban and Rural, Ramanagar, Kolar, Chitradurga recording deficit rain. Chamarajanagar has the highest rainfall deficit standing at 62 per cent."
Last year, months of June and July witnessed excess rainfall. This year, Monsoon isn't picking up as we predicted, Srinivas said and added, "Looking at the depression formed over Bay of Bengal, we expected Monsoon to pick up and become widespread after June 26. But the depression headed further North moving into Maharashtra and Gujarat."
Poor inflow into dams
The inflows into dams, which were slowly picking in June, has now drastically fallen, Srinivas said.
The condition of Cauvery dams is very unsatisfactory. Rain deficit percentage in Cauvery catchment area, Kodagu is 46 per cent and Wayanad in Kerala is above 50 per cent, he explained.
According to the figures accessed from KSNDMC on Thursday, water levels in KRS is 5.87 TMC, which stood at 13.28 TMC the same time last year. Kabini has 5 TMC (which had 7.12 TMC), Hemavathi has 5.79 TMC (14.23 TMC), Harangi has 3.12 TMC ( 7.54 TMC).
When asked about what was in store, Srinivas said, "According to the latest rainfall forecast, monsoon is expected to gain strength after July 18."
