June gets 16 per cent more rainfall, but monsoon has weakened

Though the country received 16 per cent more rainfall than normal in June, monsoon has slowed down in several parts which have recorded deficient rain, India Meteorological Department has said.
Monsoon has weakened since the end of last week, IMD, which has forecast 8 and 10 per cent less than normal rainfall in July and August respectively, said.
The east and northwest India, which initially recorded good rainfall, received just one per cent of overall normal rain so far. The northeastern states of Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura have received 31 per cent deficient rainfall this month, while Bihar got 27 per cent less rain than normal.

Several parts of the southern peninsula have witnessed deficient rain which includes the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (-21 per cent), Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry (-18 per cent), Kerala (-13 per cent).
However, the Central (23 per cent) and Northwest India (31 per cent) have recorded good precipitation.
IMD has already asked the Agriculture department to keep a contingency plan ready to tackle the situation arising out of inadequate rain.
The Southwest Monsoon made its entry on June 5 after a delay of four days. However, it quickly covered the entire country by June 26, almost 20 days ahead of the normal date July 15.

42 per cent deficient rainfall was recorded in June last year and it had created fear among farmers and policy makers. However, the situation improved after good rain in July, August and September that brought down the season's deficiency by 12 per cent.