Bengaluru: While the monsoon has so far been normal overall in the state, 12 districts have received lesser rain than usual, according to Mr G S Srinivasa Reddy, director , Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC).
The state has received 126 mm rain between June 1 and 21, recording a three per cent surplus in this period. However, North Interior Karnataka has received the best showers so far, recording 45 per cent surplus rain. By contrast South Interior Karnataka has recorded 31 per cent less rain , Malnad, 17 per cent less rain and the monsoon is two per cent deficit over coastal Karnataka.
"Kodagu in Karnataka and Wyanad in Kerala are the main catchment areas of the river Cauvery, and are responsible for inflow into the KRS and Kabini dams. Unfortunately, the rain isn’t satisfactory in this region so far. Kodagu has a deficit of 42 per cent and Wayanad, of 52 per cent,” Mr Reddy notes.
Ask him if the regions dependant on the Cauvery for their water supply will have a hard time this year too, and he holds out hope, explaining that although the monsoon is weak in the state right now, it could pick up by June 25or 26. “The surplus pre-monsoon rain was expected to generate a run-off to Cauvery dams. But this did not happen as the monsoon was delayed. However, we are expecting the situation to improve in July,” he adds.
