Delay in the southwest monsoon and weak monsoon conditions combined with associated break monsoon current resulted in the failure of southwest monsoon over Telangana and Rayalaseema regions.
The failure of monsoon rains caused significant depletion of groundwater levels in Telangana and Rayalaseema.
During the northeast monsoon season only ‘Hudhud’ cyclone had caused very heavy rains that too only in the three north Andhra districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam. Though four low pressure systems had moved across south coastal A.P. and Rayalaseema, they had not contributed to normal rainfall during the season, says retired Director in the India Meteorological Department P.V. Rama Rao, who, along with assistant meteorologist P Radhe Syam, made an analysis based on data obtained from the IMD and from the websites of the Ground Water Departments of A.P. and Telangana States.
Wet period
June to November is considered the ‘wet period’ in India. It includes the principal southwest monsoon season (June to September) and northeast monsoon months (October and November).
Telangana is almost entirely dependent on groundwater for agriculture.
Exploitation of groundwater for irrigation during the Rabi season could lead to a further decline in the water levels. It could cause severe drinking water scarcity during the summer months in Medak, Rangareddy, Nizamabad, Hyderabad and Nalgonda districts.
The situation could change for the better in July 2015 if southwest monsoon advances on schedule in June.
“Telangana received continuously deficit rainfall (less than -21 per cent) during the southwest monsoon season. Not even a single system moved over Telangana during the northeast monsoon season, resulting in a huge deficit rainfall of (-) 52 per cent during the season. It received 37 per cent deficit rainfall by the end of December 2014,” Mr. Rama Rao adds.
In Rayalaseema, the average deficiency in rainfall was (-) 28 per cent and region experienced a drop of 3.89 m (13 ft) in ground water level by the end of November 2014.
Exploitation of groundwater for irrigation during Rabi season may lead to further decline in water levels
The failure of monsoon rains caused significant depletion of groundwater levels in Telangana and Rayalaseema.
During the northeast monsoon season only ‘Hudhud’ cyclone had caused very heavy rains that too only in the three north Andhra districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam. Though four low pressure systems had moved across south coastal A.P. and Rayalaseema, they had not contributed to normal rainfall during the season, says retired Director in the India Meteorological Department P.V. Rama Rao, who, along with assistant meteorologist P Radhe Syam, made an analysis based on data obtained from the IMD and from the websites of the Ground Water Departments of A.P. and Telangana States.
Wet period
June to November is considered the ‘wet period’ in India. It includes the principal southwest monsoon season (June to September) and northeast monsoon months (October and November).
Telangana is almost entirely dependent on groundwater for agriculture.
Exploitation of groundwater for irrigation during the Rabi season could lead to a further decline in the water levels. It could cause severe drinking water scarcity during the summer months in Medak, Rangareddy, Nizamabad, Hyderabad and Nalgonda districts.
The situation could change for the better in July 2015 if southwest monsoon advances on schedule in June.
“Telangana received continuously deficit rainfall (less than -21 per cent) during the southwest monsoon season. Not even a single system moved over Telangana during the northeast monsoon season, resulting in a huge deficit rainfall of (-) 52 per cent during the season. It received 37 per cent deficit rainfall by the end of December 2014,” Mr. Rama Rao adds.
In Rayalaseema, the average deficiency in rainfall was (-) 28 per cent and region experienced a drop of 3.89 m (13 ft) in ground water level by the end of November 2014.
Exploitation of groundwater for irrigation during Rabi season may lead to further decline in water levels
