Several river basins now 20-40% rainfall-deficient

PUNE: At least 12 basins of rain-fed rivers in several states, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and MP, are showing a gaping rainfall deficit from the beginning of the monsoon season till now. River basins such as Tapi, Middle Godavari, Pranhita, Upper Krishna, Lower Bhima and lower and upper Yamuna have had a deficient rainfall from 20- 40% this season.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) river basin rainfall data from June 1 to August 15 showed that the maximum rainfall deficiency was seen in the middle Yamuna river basin in northwest India, which has received around 41% less rainfall.The middle Godavari basin, between the confluence of Manjira and Pranhita, has had a 33% rainfall deficiency. This is the second highest deficiency recorded among the 61 river basins whose rainfall data is calculated by the IMD.
Most basins with deficient rainfall are in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, UP, Haryana and Delhi.
The rain-deficit upper and middle Yamuna basins fall in the northwestern parts of the country. Tapi, Narmada, Wainganga, Wardha, middle Godavari, Pranhita, upper Krishna and lower Bhima river basins, which have recorded a rainfall deficiency of over 20% to 30%, fall in central India. Basins in south peninsula India, such as lower Tungabhadra and Cauvery, have also been rain deficient this monsoon.
A senior IMD official told TOI that deficiency in a basin’s rainfall in comparison to its normal rain is indicative of less than normal rains in the region where the basin is located. “The overall water management of a state or region, from water used for drinking, dam storage and groundwater recharge, depends on the amount of rainfall received in a basin. Rainfall over a basin either supplements its storage or infiltrates into the ground to recharge its groundwater,” he said. A Central Water Commission (CWC) official said, “Most of the rain deficient basins fall in central India, which has recorded less than normal rains till now. Similarly, the Wainganga river basin falls entirely in Vidarbha, another rain-deficient region of the country. Major areas of different states cut across these basins, with disputes over water-sharing rampant. Deficient rainfall in river basins may, therefore, only aggravate such issues,” he said.