Delayed Monsoon May Push Telangana Into A Drought-Like Situation

It's already mid-June and Telangana is still waiting for the drops of rain. With the arrival of the southwest monsoon delaying inordinately, a severe rainfall deficit condition is staring at most of the districts in the State this year, as against receiving stable rainfall in the previous years, creating a drought-like situation.

Weathermen had predicted a slowdown in the progress of the monsoon over the country due to the impact of cyclone Biparjoy and El Nino effects. They had warned that the monsoon is expected to be weak and delayed in Telangana this year.

According to the Met department, the monsoon winds, which were initially projected to arrive by June 5, are now expected to hit the State in the third week of the month. The delay in rainfall can be attributed to factors such as heat waves, heat stress and the complex interplay of planetary winds and ocean currents, it had said.

"The consequences of a delayed and weakened monsoon can be far-reaching, affecting vegetation, forests, agriculture and water resources in the State. Farmers may face challenges in protecting their crops without sufficient water facilities," a New Indian Express report quoted environmentalist Sai Bhaskar Reddy Nakka as saying.

"Additionally, the variability in rainfall, extreme climatic events and monsoon breaks brought about by global warming and climate change too can disrupt the farmers' crop cycles," Nakka added.

Meanwhile, the data from Planning and Development Society (PDS) shows that only two districts -- Vikarabad and Narayanpet -- have received 'normal rain' while four others have got 'deficient' rain in the first two weeks of June. Rest of the 27 districts of the State, including Hyderabad, are eagerly awaiting the monsoonal rains to arrive.

The PDS monitors weather through 1,044 automated weather stations, of which merely 13 have reported rain this month so far. As per the data, the large deficient districts have received minus (-)60 to -96 per cent of average rainfall in a season.

The delayed onset of the monsoon is expected to have its impact on the Kharif crop season that begins in June and ends in September. Timely rains are crucial for Telangana's Kharif crop season as up to 55 per cent of the cultivated area -- around 1.36 crore acre -- is rainfed. Cotton, mainly rainfed, occupies around 65 lakh acre alone, said a media report.