Close to two months since the onset of monsoon, the overall rainfall deficiency in Karnataka stands at 19%. The overall deficiency for Bengaluru Urban is 30%. In July, until Sunday, the rainfall deficiency for Karnataka is 13% and for Bengaluru Urban it is 40%.
G.S. Srinivasa Reddy, Director, Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, said cyclone Fani and cyclone Vayu diverted the rain away from the south towards Maharashtra.
The forecast is not very encouraging. Mr. Reddy said, “The probability of rain in south-interior Karnataka in September is higher. But in coastal Karnataka and Malnad, 85% of the monsoon is over by August-end. In north and south-interior Karnataka, about 50% of the monsoon season has been completed so far,” he said.
“Overall, the forecast says rainfall will be 92% normal, but some areas will see deficiency in August as well,” he said.
The major concern at present is the poor inflows into reservoirs, Mr. Reddy added. “Last year there was excessive rainfall, but compared to normal levels, there is deficiency in inflow. By July-end, normally, four major dams in the Cauvery basin together have 120 tmcft of water, but this time it is only 36 tmcft,” he said.
