The Hindu Business Line : `Country to receive near-normal rainfall'

"The country will receive near normal rainfall and the monsoon will make up for the 15-per cent deficiency till today by July 5 itself," the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Mr Kapil Sibal, said here on Friday.

Normal rainfall has been predicted in Bihar, Marathwada and some States in the North-East in the first week of July.

Extensive cloud mass associated with the inter-tropical convergence zone drifted northwards in the extreme south Arabian Sea which helped the monsoon become strong.

This will result in good rainfall across the country in this period, barring some places, Mr Sibal told reporters.

In the last four days of June, the monsoon has made up for about 30 per cent of rain deficiency, he said.

Central India has witnessed a good amount of rainfall, while some States in the North-East have received below-normal rains and the situation is not likely to change much, he said.

"Central India for the month of June has received 1 per cent more rainfall, whereas North-East is 41 per cent deficient," said Mr Sibal. "Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura will receive less rainfall than normal. But the average rainfall in those areas is higher that the national average," he added.

The condition in Marathwada is likely to be grim as the region has not received rainfall and there is no possibility of rainfall in the near future, he said adding that Bihar is likely to receive scanty rains. The trend in Gujarat, which has received good rainfall so far, is likely to continue, said Mr Sibal. "Rainfall activity has been good in Gujarat and is likely to remain so during the first week of July," he said.

On the difference in rainfall predictions made by various agencies, Mr Sibal said, "From now onwards, the Department of Science and Technology would collect information from research institutes and disseminate information to avoid any confusion."

The Minister said the country, as a whole, will receive near-normal rainfall but it was not possible to give rainfall data specific to districts.

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