The monsoon deficiency of India has improved from 43 per cent to 32 per cent after higher precipitation in the past week. Satisfactory rainfall has been forecast in Central India and coastal South, Minister of State in-charge of Science, Technology and Earth Sciences, Jitendra Singh said on Sunday.
Central India, home to the soya-growing Malwa belt, had up to 80 per cent probability of drought a fortnight back, according to private forecaster SkyMet.
Mr. Singh added that “active rainfall” has also been forecast from August. He held a video conference with the Weather Forecast Divisions in Chennai, Pune, Kolkata and Guwahati at the Meteorological Headquarters on Lodhi Road on Sunday.
The Minister praised the MeT Department for accurately forecasting inclement weather in Uttarakhand from July 16 to 20, following which precautions were taken for the Badrinath Pilgrim tour.
After visiting the Satellite Monitoring Division with Earth Sciences Secretary Shailesh Nayak, Mr. Singh said the IMD now has the capability of pin pointing specific areas worst hit by quakes. Foreign countries have contacted India to share our inputs, he added.
