Westernmost tips of Kutch-Jamnagar get good rain, wipes out deficit

Ahmedabad, July 23 (UNI) The third round of monsoon rain in most parts of Gujarat since Friday has wiped out the deficit even in the country's westernmost drought-prone districts of Kutch and Jamnagar.

It is still raining in several parts of the state, especially in Kutch and Jamnagar districts, when last reports poured in here this afternoon.

It rained more than 10 mm in 57 out of total 225 taluks in the state during the last eight hours. In Kutch, Gandhidham received 84 mm, Mandvi received 60 mm, Bhachau 53 mm, Mundra 36 mm and Anjar 34 mm.

Even the westernmost semi-arid taulkas of Abdasa and Lakhpat, where hardly any agricultural activity takes place, received seven and 16 mm of rainfall, these figures being considered to be 'moderately good' by Kutch standards.

In the other westernmost district of Jamnagar too, Kalyanpur received 39 mm, Dwarka 34 mm and Jamnagar city 23 mm. Other major rainfall areas were Porbandar 80 mm, Ranavav 78 mm, Talaja (Bhavnagar) 55 mm Maliya Miyan (Rajkot) 47 mm and Vijaynagar 37 mm (Sabarkantha).

It was particularly heartening for the perenially rain-deficient Saurashtra and Kutch region, almost wiping out the deficits till the last two spells of the monsoon showers.

The other beneficial aspects of the recent rain are that they filled up medium-sized dams, smaller check dams and makeshift 'bori bunds' across rivulets and streams, recharging underground acquifers and brightening crop prospects. Most of these dams are the main source of drinking water in these drought-prone areas.

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