<p>The southwest monsoon has arrived in Kerala eight days ahead of its scheduled onset and advanced quickly along the coast to Mumbai, reaching there 16 days ahead of schedule. This marked the earliest arrival of the monsoon in recorded history in the city and is a meteorological high-water mark. There was a forecast from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) about an early onset. </p><p>Combined with other unexpected climate events, the monsoon has acquired a momentum rarely seen, and the rain has been relentless. Taken by surprise, the weathermen have raised the status of the alert from yellow to orange to red in most places. The distinction between pre-monsoon and monsoon showers is only technical, and the IMD has said that there will be above-normal rains in June.</p>.<p>The abundance of rain would give relief to many parts of the country which were reeling under heat wave conditions caused by a torrid summer, and augurs well for agriculture. Nearly half of the country’s cultivated land is dependent on the monsoon. A good monsoon means abundant crops and an increase in rural employment and income which would boost the economy. It would also help the government augment its grain stocks. Higher reservoir levels will mean stable irrigation and power production. Groundwater levels can be replenished and there is a good opportunity to make the best use of rainwater harvesting plans.</p>.<p>However, several parts of the country have been ravaged by the heavy rains and normal life is disrupted. Major urban centres such as Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru have remained susceptible to flooding, waterlogging and related issues. Life in Mumbai was thrown off gear – low-lying areas were inundated and a metro station was flooded in the last week. Bengaluru also had similar experiences. Urban India is not monsoon-ready, and civic infrastructure which is already fragile and inadequate breaks down under the onslaught of the monsoon. No city has invested sufficiently in drainage and water management, lakes have disappeared because of encroachment or disuse, there is no check on the dumping of construction debris and garbage on roads, and tree felling is rampant. The design and construction of roads, buildings and apartments are faulty and accentuate the problems of water movement. These have been perennial urban planning issues; now, even smaller cities and villages are prone to rain havoc and damage. The situation has become more dire with climate change making the weather unpredictable and bringing in extreme events like excessive rains, storms and cyclones.</p>
<p>The southwest monsoon has arrived in Kerala eight days ahead of its scheduled onset and advanced quickly along the coast to Mumbai, reaching there 16 days ahead of schedule. This marked the earliest arrival of the monsoon in recorded history in the city and is a meteorological high-water mark. There was a forecast from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) about an early onset. </p><p>Combined with other unexpected climate events, the monsoon has acquired a momentum rarely seen, and the rain has been relentless. Taken by surprise, the weathermen have raised the status of the alert from yellow to orange to red in most places. The distinction between pre-monsoon and monsoon showers is only technical, and the IMD has said that there will be above-normal rains in June.</p>.<p>The abundance of rain would give relief to many parts of the country which were reeling under heat wave conditions caused by a torrid summer, and augurs well for agriculture. Nearly half of the country’s cultivated land is dependent on the monsoon. A good monsoon means abundant crops and an increase in rural employment and income which would boost the economy. It would also help the government augment its grain stocks. Higher reservoir levels will mean stable irrigation and power production. Groundwater levels can be replenished and there is a good opportunity to make the best use of rainwater harvesting plans.</p>.<p>However, several parts of the country have been ravaged by the heavy rains and normal life is disrupted. Major urban centres such as Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru have remained susceptible to flooding, waterlogging and related issues. Life in Mumbai was thrown off gear – low-lying areas were inundated and a metro station was flooded in the last week. Bengaluru also had similar experiences. Urban India is not monsoon-ready, and civic infrastructure which is already fragile and inadequate breaks down under the onslaught of the monsoon. No city has invested sufficiently in drainage and water management, lakes have disappeared because of encroachment or disuse, there is no check on the dumping of construction debris and garbage on roads, and tree felling is rampant. The design and construction of roads, buildings and apartments are faulty and accentuate the problems of water movement. These have been perennial urban planning issues; now, even smaller cities and villages are prone to rain havoc and damage. The situation has become more dire with climate change making the weather unpredictable and bringing in extreme events like excessive rains, storms and cyclones.</p>
