Maharashtra among 5 states with most deficient pre-monsoon rainfall

PUNE: Maharashtra is among five states in India showing the highest deficit in pre-monsoon showers in comparison to their long-term average during the first 10 days of May. This has, in turn, put more pressure on the water resources across the state.
After largely deficient rainfall till April in Maharashtra, a similar trend is being seen so far in May. Gujarat has the highest pre-monsoon rain deficit at 95% followed by Maharashtra with 93% during May 1-10, IMD data showed. The other three largely deficient states during this period are Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Assam.
Anupam Kashyapi, head of weather forecasting division, IMD, Pune, told TOI, “As per the latest extended range forecast, good pre-monsoon showers in parts of Maharashtra are expected only during the second fortnight of May. At least for the next few days, we do not expect much pre-monsoon activity in parts of Maharashtra, expect very light rainfall in isolated parts of Konkan-Goa and and southern parts of the state.”
He said since IMD’s temperature and rainfall outlook for May had forecast good pre-monsoon rainfall for parts of central India, including Maharashtra, the second half of May could turn out to be better.
While officials from the Maharashtra Water Resources Department said pre-monsoon showers do not have much of an impact on dam levels, water experts said pre-monsoon showers have specific benefits in terms of reducing the overall water requirements in a region.
Live water storage for major dam projects in Amravati, Nagpur and Nashik has fallen lower than that of last year.
An irrigation department official from Pune said the four reservoirs supplying water to Pune city have a collective stock of 9.04 TMC now as against 10.97 TMC around the same time last year. “The four dams in the Khadakwasla complex have almost 2 TMC less water now than last year’s stock on the same day. Had the pre-monsoon rainfall been optimal, it would have helped water requirement in the command area of the dams. Even 20mm rain can fulfil crop irrigation requirements for up to 10 days. This can save water usually released from the dams for irrigation purposes,” he said.
VG Rajput, secretary, water resource management (WRM & CAD), however, told TOI, “Overall, when all dam projects in the state are considered, the live water storage was 41.19% this year till Tuesday, slightly higher than last year’s 39.92% on the same day.”