The state has received an average of 278 mm of rainfall as of July 30, as against an average of 914 mm between 2001 and 2010, i.e. around 30.4% of the average rainfall so far.
More than half of the monsoon season is over, but the state has received just about three-tenths of the average rainfall of the past 10 years so far, Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) data shows.
The state has received an average of 278 mm of rainfall as of July 30, as against an average of 914 mm between 2001 and 2010, i.e. around 30.4% of the average rainfall so far.
The Kutch region, which recorded an average of 458 mm rainfall in last 10 years, has received only 76 mm so far, which works out to be 17% of the average rainfall.
North Gujarat, which comprises Banaskantha, Gandhinagar, Mehsana, Patan and Sabarkantha, recorded average 755 mm rains in the past 10 years. However, it has received only 193 mm, or 25% of the average rainfall in the first half of monsoon season this year.
Saurashtra has received the highest average rainfall in the state this year. The region, which includes Amreli, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Jamnagar, Porbandar and Surendranagar, has received 339 mm, which is around 43% of the last 10 years’ average of 791 mm, the data shows.
The central Gujarat region, of which Ahmedabad is a part, has received below 23% of last 10 years’ average rains. Central Gujarat, which also comprises Anand, Kheda, Dahod, Panchmahal and Vadodara, has received only 194 mm rains as against 10 years’ average of 846 mm.
“There is adequate water in dams to meet drinking water needs for the coming months. Agriculture is also more or less out of danger. We are hopeful that the rains will reach the normal levels in the coming days,” said water resources minister Nitin Patel.
South Gujarat, which is known for heavy rains, has also received poor rainfall in this season so far. As against average of 1,493 mm rainfall in the last 10 monsoons, South Gujarat region has received 447 mm, or 29.96% of the average rainfall.
Dangs in south Gujarat has received 44% of the average rainfall, while Valsad has received 30%. It may be mentioned here that Kaprada and Dharampur in Valsad record the highest rainfall in the whole state, but rains seem to have evaded even these places this year so far. Surat has received 431 mm rains as against average of 1,605 mm in the last 10 years.
The rainfall in Gujarat typically lasts till around mid-September, which means that the state can achieve the normal rainfall levels only if there are heavy to very heavy rains in the next month-and-a-half or so. Until then, everyone is keeping their fingers crossed.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}