CHANDIGARH: Even though most parts of India have witnessed normal rainfall this monsoon season, the bread basket states – Punjab and Haryana – have received deficient showers (more than 20-59% below the normal) in the June 1 to September 16 period. With the monsoon entering the withdrawal stage in north west India, the situation is unlikely to improve in the next fortnight, putting these states at the risk of having the third straight deficient monsoon rainfall year.
Punjab and Haryana had deficient monsoon rainfall (June-1-September 30 period) in 2014 and 2015 too. In 2014, Punjab received 243.9 mm of rainfall (50% below normal) as against the normal of 491.9mm and Haryana had an even greater deficit of 56%, with the state receiving 200.1 mm rain as against the normal of 460.3 mm.
Similarly, in 2015, the monsoon rainfall recorded in Punjab was 336.3 mm, which is 32% below the normal of 491.9 mm, while Haryana got 287.7 mm (a deficit of 38%) as against the normal of 460.3 mm.
As per the data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Punjab has recorded 345.8 mm of rainfall from June 1 till September 16, this year as against the normal of 456.9 mm with an overall deficit of 24% while in Haryana the total rainfall in the corresponding period has been 330.1 mm (24% deficiency) as against the normal of 436.3 mm.
This season, many key paddy growing districts of both states have recorded deficient or scanty rainfall, adding to the burden of farmers who have to rely more on fast depleting groundwater to maintain their crops. In Haryana, 12 out of 21 districts have recorded deficient or scanty (more than 60% below normal) rainfall till Friday. On the other hand, 10 districts of 20 in Punjab have received deficient or scanty rainfall.
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