Even though the on-going south-west monsoon has been the most benevolent so far over the southern peninsula, there are some pockets in the region, which are still facing huge deficiencies.
The region, which consists of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, apart from Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar, has received 11 per cent more rains at the end of the first half of the four month-long season.
But, an analysis of the district-wise data for the region shows that four districts in Kerala and two each in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka still had deficiencies of more than 20 per cent of their long period average as per the latest data available with the India Meteorological Department, up to July 28.
Tiruchi district in Tamil Nadu has the highest deficiency of 85 per cent, followed by Hassan in Karnataka (minus 58 per cent) and Wayanad in Kerala (57 per cent).
Kodagu in Karnataka, Ariyalur in Tamil Nadu, and Thiruvananthapuram, Mallapuram and Kollam in Kerala followed them with deficiencies of 28 per cent, 23 per cent, 25 per cent, 22 per cent and 20 per cent respectively.
Significantly, Wayanad and Kodagu districts are among the areas that receive very high amounts of rainfall, nestled as they are in the Western Ghats.
Deficiencies
By July 28, Wayanad should have got 178.5 cm of rainfall, but it has got only 76.7 cm, while Kodagu should have got 108.3 cm, but has got 78.4 cm. In the case of Tiruchi, it should have got 8 cm of rain, but it has got only one cm.
Apart from these, as many as seven districts in Karnataka, five in Kerala, and two each in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have deficiencies ranging from 10 per cent to 20 per cent.
In Karnataka, Shimoga had a deficit of 16 per cent, Chikmagalur 13 per cent, Uttar Kannada 13 per cent, Dakshin Kannada 12 per cent, Bellary 11 per cent and Udupi and Dharwad, 10 per cent each.
In Kerala, Alappuzha had a deficit of 17 per cent, Palakkad 15 per cent, Kannur 14 per cent, Pathanamthitta 12 per cent, and Thrissur 11 per cent.
In Tamil Nadu, Thanjavur had a deficiency of 17 per cent and Pudukkotai 15 per cent and in Andhra Pradesh, Adilabad 13 per cent and Nizamabad 10 per cent.
