State slipping into worst-ever drought, no sign of rain for now

There is now an apprehension among weather experts that Karnataka is slipping into its worst-ever drought. A failed Northeast monsoon could result in aggravating the drought scene in the coming months, say experts at the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC).

The Northeast monsoon begins in October and till date (November 23), the rainfall deficiency has been 78% surpassing the previous worst ever deficiency recorded in 1988 (74%).

This has come as a double whammy for the state as it comes close on the heels of a failed Southwest monsoon (June to September 2016).

“It is the second consecutive year that the Northeast monsoon has failed in the state. We could be reeling under the worst drought ever,” says KSNDMC director G S Srinivasa Reddy.
According to the Met department, the chances of the state receiving rains in the coming days are bleak. Several parts of the state are already facing severe drinking water scarcity and the crisis could worsen in the days to come,” Reddy said.

139 taluks drought-hit
The state government has already declared 139 taluks as drought-hit. “The usual trend in the state is that when the Southwest monsoon fails, the Northeast monsoon is normal. But this time both the monsoons have failed.

“Several pockets in the state depend on Northeast monsoon for agricultural activity,” Reddy said. The prolonged dry spell has resulted in sowing taking place on only 50% of the 34 lakh hectares of the targeted area. There is no scope for any sowing in the coming months.

Reddy pointed out that water levels in the major reservoirs in the state are low. The water levels in the reservoirs in the Cauvery basin have hit rock bottom.

Due of rains in Maharashtra, there has been some inflow into the Almatti, the Narayanapur and the Ghataprabha dams.

Region-wise, the rainfall deficiency is 85% in south interior Karnataka, 81% in north interior Karnataka, 76% in Malnad region and 56% in coastal region from October 1 to November 23.

Both the Southwest monsoon and Northeast monsoon had failed in the state last year also, but this time the severity is much more.

More taluks are likely to be added to the drought-hit list after an assessment in December, he added.
DH News Service