Click to play videoNew Delhi: The delay in monsoons has also sent alarm bells ringing across north India.
Four states Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and the union territory of Chandigarh now face acute water and power shortage as the water level in the Bhakra Nangal Dam, which supplies water to these states, is depleting at a fast rate.
With no rains, the scorching heat is drying up the dam. The water level has fallen to 1,504 feet which is 90 feet lower than last year. It is feared to go down even further. All four states and Chandigarh are having an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss the issue.
“Today's (Tuesday) level of water in dam is 1504 feet. If you compare it to last year on same day it is lower by 90 feet. Every time the rain patterns change… some time rains starts in June. Now June is going to be over the rains haven't come yet. The level will increase only with the rain water,” said Member Secretary Irrigation, Bhakra Beas Management Board, MK Gupta.
The dam not only generates electricity for many north Indian states but also provides water to irrigate 10-million acres of land in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal and Rajasthan. The dam also supplies drinking water to several states in north India.
Meanwhile, farmers across the country are also alarmed at the prospect of a drought this year.
Twenty-eight out of the 36 meteorological sub-divisions in India have recorded deficient or scanty rainfall, as opposed to only four divisions in 2008.
The situation is bleak with almost all the major states report a huge deficit in rainfall.
Madhya Pradesh is grappling with a rainfall deficiency of 92 per cent, Chhattisgarh 91 per cent, Marathwada in Maharashtra 82 per cent, Saurashtra in Gujarat 100 per cent, Orissa 43 per cent, Jharkhand 54 per cent, Bihar 81 per cent and Uttar Pradesh is facing a deficit of 85 per cent.
The crucial food producing state of Punjab is deficient by 68 per cent and even Kerala, where rains arrived before time, is experiencing a rain deficit of 35 per cent.
In Assam the monsoons officially arrived on May 25 but the state has so far experienced a deficit of 35 per cent.
World Meteorological Organisation has also warned that there was a more than 50 per cent chance of El Nino in 2009 - double the normal probability in any other year. Cyclone Aila is also suspected to be one of the causes behind the weak monsoon.
Moreover, if the rain gods do not smile soon agriculture will be hit in most of the states resulting in food prices going up which will also push up the inflation.
If there is a drought Kharif or summer crops are at risk as about 55-60 per cent of these crops are dependent on the rains.
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