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Maharashtra has received 88.3% of its annual average rainfall
Despite good rains this year as compared to last year, Maharashtra is yet to touch its average annual rainfall. The state has received total 88.3% of its average annual rainfall till September 23.
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Despite good rains this year as compared to last year, Maharashtra is yet to touch its average annual rainfall. The state has received total 88.3% of its average annual rainfall till September 23. Last year, the state had received only 62.5 % of the average annual rainfall.
Meanwhile, the good news is that the state’s total stock of water in all the dams and water reservoirs has significantly improved to 70%, compared to last year’s 31.85 % in the same month.
Latur, one of the drought-hit districts in Marathwada, that was in news for water scarcity and had to be supplied water through a special trains — Jaldoot — is among the top five districts that received highest rainfall this season. The district has received 115.7% rains of its average annual rainfall till date.
While Konkan and Marathwada regions received good rainfall on Friday, districts like Beed, Osmanabad (Marathwada) and Raigad, Ratnagiri (Konkan) received decent to heavy showers. IMD report said Raigad and Ratnagiri are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rain spells in the next 48 hours.
“Maharashtra has got 88.3% average annual rainfall so far and going by the climate conditions, we are hoping to cross this mark very soon,” said Suhas Diwase, director, state disaster management authority.
According to the data of rainfall with the recording and analysis wing of state agriculture department, during June and August, state had received only 89.8% average rainfall but in September, the showers went up to 106.5% of the average rainfall for the month.
More importantly, parched districts of Marathwada also registered good showers this time. Other than Aurangabad, all the other seven districts are very close to getting their annual average rainfall, while Latur has received much more than the average.
However, the water stock of Marathwada is still least among all the other regions. The region currently has 43.95% water of the total capacity while last year on the same date, it was just 3.65%.
Due to less rainfall, Maharashtra had faced unprecedented water shortage and severe drought last year that continued until August, 2016. Until June 20, around 4,982 villages of the state did not have any source of water and were receiving water with the help of 6,130 tankers.
