Click to play videoNew Delhi: The Union Government called the secretaries Power, Agriculture and Water Resources Ministers and the Meteorological department for an emergency meeting at Shram Shakti Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday to discuss the monsoon.
Weak and poor rainfall has been haunting Centre and state governments for the past couple of weeks. Not only is lack of rainfall making the power situation worse with many states facing a blackout situation, but even drinking water is becoming scare with dams drying up.
The United Progressive Alliance Government is alarmed by falling levels at Bhakra Nangal Dam which not only supplies water to many North Indian states but is also crucial for generating power for the Northern Grid.
The Government has gone into a crisis management mode with the rainfall deficit mounting to over 50 per cent. UPA has now said that the June to September rainfall will fall short of normal this year and the shortfall will hit the southern and north-western states badly too.
The Government says the El-Nino is a major factor affecting the monsoon this year.
Experts say monsoons have been delayed because of a periodic weather phenomenon called the El Nino effect, which saps the strength of monsoon winds two out of three times.
Kharif crops are at high risk due to this for over 50 per cent of Kharif crops depend on monsoons. There is more than 50 per cent chance of El Nino this year, double the normal probability.
The Prime Minister's Office has asked Cabinet Secretary TM Chandrasekhar to monitor the countrywide situation. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked Chandrasekhar to convene a meeting of a Committee of Secretaries.
However, the Meteorology Department has said that by July 2, monsoons will cover most of eastern and central India followed by North-western India.
Sources say that agriculture will take its worst hit in seven years if the monsoons are further delayed.
The water-level in reservoirs and dams, especially those of hydel projects, have been steadily falling over the past two weeks.
The water-level at the Bhakra Nangal Dam has reached such a low level that very little electricity is being produced.
The Power Ministry has also convened a meeting on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the power shortage that might happen in the northern states if the Bhakra Nangal Dam provides very little power.
There has already been a 20 to 30 per cent drop in power generation. Power Ministry has decided on more power cuts and rationing of water supply.
As a precautionary measure, power and water supply to some states has already been cut down, but the ministries are in constant touch with the Met Department which has been claiming that monsoon will revive by June 25 and turn the situation around.
Minister of State for Earth Sciences Prithviraj Chavan said the Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet Secretariat has been monitoring the monsoon.
"Many states have tried cloud seeding experiments, but there is no evidence that it results in rain. However, experiments are going on in various states," Chavan stated.
Chavan had met Met Department officials on Tuesday to take stock of the situation.
A meeting of Agriculture Secretaries of States that have not received any rain has been also been convened on Friday.
Rainfall over geographical regions
- 81 per cent for NW India
- 92 per cent of LPA in NE India
- 99 per cent in Central India
- 93 per cent in Southern Peninsula
What could happen if the monsoons fail
- The first impact will be on crops - a failure of which will see a price rise because of less supply and high demand
- Rising inflation combined with sluggish economy will slowdown recovery
- The small and medium farmer will bear the brunt and it will mean massive suffering
- Power generation will be badly hit
- Drinking water crisis will deepen in rural and urban areas
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