Gujarat has received 614 mm rain so far, which is 74% of the 30-year-avg rainfall of 831 mm
With monsoon set to withdraw soon, Gujarat, which has received just 74% of the average rainfall this season, is staring at a huge rain deficit.
The state government said on Friday that the monsoon is slowly moving towards withdrawing, and there is little rainfall in the state. Recently, the India Meteorological Department also said that the South-West monsoon is likely to start withdrawing by next week, and has forecast only light to moderate rainfall in parts of the state over the next three days.
According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, the state has received 614 mm rainfall in the current monsoon so far, which is 73.87% of the average 831 rainfall between 1978 and 2017.
The monsoon got off to a slow start, with average rainfall of just 68 mm in June, before picking up in July to register 382 mm. There was heavy flooding in parts of south Gujarat and Saurashtra in July. Monsoon lost its steam in August with average 146 mm, while Saurashtra has seen only 17 mm rainfall.
"Barring south Gujarat, monsoon has been highly erratic in other regions. This is likely to affect agricultural output in several places," said a senior government official.
The season's rainfall in several places in the state, including Ahmedabad, is much lower than the average rainfall.
Kutch district has received only 26.5% of the 30-year-average rainfall, with Lakhpat and Rapar talukas in the district receiving only 3.44% and 5.65% rain. Abdasa (13.6%) and Nakhatrana (17.2%) talukas too have received very little rainfall.
North Gujarat is also highly rain deficient this monsoon. Patan has received just 30.5% of average rainfall, Banaskantha (33%), Mehsana (34%), and Gandhinagar (39.33%).
Ahmedabad district has received less than 40% of the 30-year-average rainfall, the Centre's data shows, while Ahmedabad city has received 47.7%.
In Saurashtra, Surendranagar (42%), Morbi (43.40%), and Devbhumi Dwarka (43.6%) have a high rain deficit.
On the other end of the spectrum, Gir Somnath, which experienced extreme flooding in July, has received 140% of the average rainfall. Navsari (110%), Bharuch (102%), Anand (102%) and Valsad (101%) are the other districts that have received more than the average rainfall.
While the rainfall has been erratic, the state is unlikely to face drinking water shortage next summer, deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said recently. At the time, the water level of Narmada dam was about 123 metre, but it is now nearing 126 metre
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