Monsoon still slightly weak, may move on in a few days

After a vigorous phase in some regions, the southwest monsoon current had weakened, but there was no cause for worry, with rains a lot better than last year, an official of India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday.

The monsoon, which made its onset over the Kerala coast on May 31, a day ahead of schedule, has advanced to Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, West Bengal, parts of southern Gujarat and southern Madhya Pradesh, most parts of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, and some parts of Bihar.

“There have been rains in the north-east, eastern regions, Maharashtra and southern parts. Further progress of monsoon is not happening,” said the official. Adding that it should progress by next week, he was hopeful of rains hitting northern India — currently sweltering under a heat wave — by the end of June. “It happens every year, some system has to form in Bay of Bengal for the rains to move on,” he said.

He said the department was satisfied with the monsoon so far, which was a lot better than last year, when the country received the worst rains in 37 years, with several parts in grip of a drought. “Right now, there is nothing to worry,” he said.

The country received an average rainfall of 85.3 mm during June 1-20, about six per cent below the normal level of 90.4 mm for the period, the latest IMD data showed.

During June 1-20, there was normal or excessive rain in 15 of the 36 meteorological subdivisions of the country. Rainfall in northwest India was six per cent above normal during the period, while those over the southern peninsula were 28 per cent above normal.

Rains over central India have improved — with the monsoon advancing to the oilseed growing states from Wednesday — but were still eight per cent below normal during June 1-20.

In the paddy growing regions of east and northeastern India, rainfall was 24 per cent below normal during the review period, the data showed.

Most of central India — where oilseeds and cotton are grown — is highly rain-dependent. Eastern India is a key paddy-growing region.

Nearly two-thirds of the country’s arable land is monsoon-dependent and without proper irrigation facilities.