Kerala records 20 per cent shortfall in rains

With the south-west monsoon failing to gain momentum, Kerala has registered a 20 per cent deficiency in rainfall after three weeks of its onset, sending danger signals to power and farm sectors.
According to the Meteorological Centre here today, the state had so far received only 433.3 mm rainfall since the onset of monsoon on June 6 against the normal 540 mm rains expected in the period.
Most districts have recorded shortfall in rains.
Deficient rains at the catchment areas of major reservoirs, especially in Idukki, has rendered the power scenario bleak since the state depends heavily on hydro electric project for domestic generation of power.

Registering a drastic fall, Idukki reservoir received only 468.2 mm of rainfall till yesterday compared to 1,071.8 mm during the same period last year.
Despite passing through a phase of acute power shortage, the Government has decided to lift the 90-minute load-shedding from tomorrow, apparently in view of the commencement of holy month of Ramadan and football world cup matches.
The supply-demand gap is to be met by borrowing from outside sources like NTPC at higher cost.