Monsoon picking up, no need to be 'alarmist': Govt

Monsoon deficit has come down to 31-32 per cent with rains picking up in July across the country giving relief to farmers, Government said today asserting that there is "no reason to be unnecessarily alarmist".
"The monsoon deficit has come down by 12 per cent and the overall deficit stands at around 31 per cent. This will bring in much needed relief to the farmers and solve the water issues," said Laxman Singh Rathore, Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
A government release quoted the Minister of State for Earth Science Jitendra Singh as saying that there has been significant increase in the monsoon during the last one week beginning from 13th July, and the seven days between last Sunday and this Sunday have recorded 11 percent increase in the monsoon country-wide.

Singh today visited Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) at "Mausam" Bhavan here to have a personal assessment of the monsoon data recorded over the last six weeks.
"After scientific analysis of the data, he observed that there was a note of optimism for the entire nation because while during the month of June and first two weeks of July, the monsoon was deficient by 43 percent, in the week beginning July 13, 2014, the deficiency was only 32 percent, thus, recording an improvement of 11 percent in the monsoon level," the statement said.
It said that after interacting with scientists and weather experts at the IMD, Singh concluded that the forecast for next two weeks is also good, particularly in Central India and coastal regions of South India .

"There is, therefore, no reason to be unnecessarily alarmist on the issue of monsoon," Singh said.
He added that from August one onwards the meteorological predictions indicate active rainfall in the country.
The monsoon covered the entire country on July 17. Over all the country received 241mm of rainfall as compared to normal precipitation of 347.7mm.