IMD, Revenue dept differ on rain forecast

Visakhapatnam: The government and IMD calculations of the rainfall data in the state has become controversial. According to statistics with the government, nine districts out of 13 in the state have received normal rainfall. But, the situation is different at the ground level.

The IMD is collecting the rainfall data by setting up the devices every 100 km radius. In north Andhra region there are three rainfall measurement centres at Kalingapatnam, Visakhapatnam and Tuni calculating the three districts actual rainfall. Meanwhile, the revenue department is collecting the rainfall data from the mandal headquarters.

However, the revenue department data is also mismatching with the ground-level realities. With the poor monsoons, the kharif crops including paddy, cotton and groundnut have been badly affected in the state.

Though the IMD is saying that normal rainfall registered in nine districts, large extent of farmers in the coastal districts almost lost their hopes due to the less rainfall. Meanwhile, with the deficit rainfall, farmers in the four Rayalaseema districts are looking at the sky for rains. The cotton and groundnut farmers left their fields and urging the government for kind of help.

Though the southwest monsoon well set in June first week across the state, the farmers with big hopes geared up for kharif cultivation. However, even in the first week of August several districts have been suffering with less rainfall.

According to the southwest monsoon calendar, in June the normal rainfall 92 mm and 122 MM registered, while in July the normal rainfall is 151 mm and registered less falls with 114 mm. Though the atmosphere is tempting with cloudy sky, there are no rains in the first week of August. In fact, from August 1 to 7 the normal rainfall is 32 mm, but registered just 21 mm.

According to the statistics of the agriculture department the paddy crop was to be cultivated in an extent of 11.5 lakh ha in kharif season. However, sowing and seedlings works were completed in 50 per cent of extent only in the state.

“Yes, less rainfall registered in several districts against the normal falls. We are collecting the data from the mandal headquarters and announcing the average rainfall of the area. It does not mean that all the villages in the mandal received good rainfall.

We are getting reports that the kharif works are not started due to the poor monsoon rains. We are ascertaining the ground-level facts. There will be a meeting on the issue by this week-end,” said a senior official of Revenue department.

The normal and actual rainfall from June 1 to August 7 in CMs

District	Normal	Actual
Srikakulam	359	354
Viziangaram	343	290
Visakhapatnam	360	357
East Godavari	407	414
West Godavari	414	433
Krishna	344	391
Guntur	261	290
Prakasam	168	161
Nellore	166	165
Chittoor	216	170
Kadapa	194	148
Anathapur	147	101
Kurnool	221	176

Above -19 % to 59 % rainfall over normal is deficient rainfall.