Delayed rains raise worry of worsening water crisis

Surat: Monsoon is likely to arrive one week late in South Gujarat, raising worry of acute water crisis in some parts of the region. Though there are some pre-monsoon activity over the region, possibility of rains is likely only around June 22, sources said.
Unfavourable cross-equatorial flow over the Arabian Sea, a ridge of high pressure in the mainland of the country foiling formation of any weather system, together with many other reasons could have delayed the arrival of the monsoon, they said, adding that the forecast for this year is of a below normal monsoon.
“Pre-monsoon showers may be witnessed at a few places due to 80 per cent humidity. But there is little possibility of actual rains immediately,” said Dr Neeraj Kumar, who works in the meteorological department of Navsari Agriculture University (NAU).
“We are already witnessing effects of climate change, causing less rainfall for the past five years. Things will deteriorate further if we don’t pay attention,” said Dr Vikas Desai, executive director, Urban Health and Climate Resilience Centre (UHCRC).
“People living in Dang, Navsari and Valsad districts already are reeling under water crisis. Rivers and rivulets in the region have dried up and we fear lakhs of people may suffer due to lack of water if rains don’t occur soon,” said an officer of horticulture department of state government in Navsari.
Rainfall data of South Gujarat show annual rainfall has been gradually decreasing in the region. The region that generally received 2,250mm of annual rainfall has in the past five years only been getting about 1,700mm of rainfall in a year.
“These are the effects of climate change and urbanization. We need to do something quickly. We have started a number of programmes to make the region green again. We also need to focus on raising the water table,” Dr Desai added.