Atmospheric pollution goes up as rains cease

Climate change: Monsoon takes a break

B Puttanna, Director of Meterological Department says though the State have received ‘ample’ amount of rainfall, the condition is still very normal. The State has so far received 121.9 mm of rainfall for the past 21 days, 15 per cent more than the average.

"Though some favourable low pressure conditions were prevailing in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai, the pressure gradients have weakened now. We are expecting low pressure to develop in Bay of Bengal that could bring back the showers in a week’s time," he said.

Lean period

This year's south-west monsoon hit Kerala coast on May 30, and later moved to south interior Karnataka on June 5, hitting the Karnataka coast on June 7. Only seven districts in Karnataka, including coastal and the Malnad regions, have been receiving continuous rainfall, whereas the other districts have been experiencing a lean period.

According to the Met department, Belgaum in North Karnataka and Mandya and South Karnataka have experienced maximum rainfall till now. On the other hand, Bangalore Urban has received 66.4 mm of rainfall. The monsoon will return by July 15. Kharif crops will not be affected with the break in the monsoon, according to M B Raje Gowda, head of Agro-Meteorology Department at University of Agricultural Sciences, kharif crops again will not be affected much due to the moisture retention in black soil, especially in north Karnataka which grows green gram, cowpea, red gram etc.

 "The break in the monsoon is being experienced since 1995 and the crop pattern has been changed since then. South Karnataka is expected to receive rain by second week of July where the break will give the crops adequate growing period. However, in north Karnataka, the monsoon is expected to return by June 25," he added.