Adilabad, on Sunday, surpassed its normal annual quantum of rainfall at 1,100 mm. This is the fourth time in this century that the district has recorded more than normal rainfall ahead of the end of the season, the previous years being 2005, 2008 and 2010.
The incidence of good rainfall, however, is characterised by irregular spell of rain which is quite uncharacteristic of Adilabad. According to old residents, until about two decades ago, monsoon invariably had evenly-spaced spells of rain which was beneficial for crops and recharging of groundwater.
This monsoon is typical of the erratic behaviour of clouds where sudden downpours are seen within as small a radius as 500 metres. If June and July had more number of rainy days, August was almost a dry month, with a few scattered showers towards the end.
While all the 12 medium and major irrigation projects in the district received good inflows in July itself, some of them like Swarna, Mathadivagu, Gaddennavagu received excess inflow which had to be released into Godavari. The major irrigation project of Kadem was almost full in the same month raising hopes of paddy cultivators along the banks of river Godavari.
In the latest spell, flood water was released by lifting seven gates of Kadem project besides from the projects listed above. But for the under construction Jagannathpur lift irrigation scheme near Kagaznagar, all the projects are brimming which spell good augury for farmers in rabi.
The irregular spells have damaged cotton and soyabean crops to some extent by way of stunted growth and also due to inundation. The growth of cotton and soyabean plants suffered during the August dry spell while the current spell has crops damaged on 572 hectares, according to a preliminary report.
The rainfall, nevertheless, turned out to be a positive sign for those inclined towards water tourism. All the waterfalls, including Kuntala, Pochera and other unexplored ones, have water all through the season, thanks to the rains.
