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Government says no need to panic

India has a contingency plan if annual monsoon rains remain below normal and there is no need panic, India's finance minister said on Wednesday.

India has suffered the worst start to the vital monsoon in eight decades, raising fears of a drought in a country where only 40 percent of farmland is irrigated.

But the rains have picked up from a shortfall of 34 percent of the long-term average in the June 1-July 9 period, to 29 percent between June 1 and July 14, weather officials told Reuters.

India's weather office on Wednesday forecast rains in India's key cotton, rice and soy regions, including widespread precipitation in the next 48 hours in central India, boosting the soybean crop.

"There has been some concern on the progress of the monsoon. As I mentioned earlier, the government is monitoring the situation," Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told parliament.

India was ready to implement a contingency plan, he said, but did not elaborate.

"At the same time I would not like to press the panic button," he added.

Flash floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains have killed 15 people in the eastern state of Orissa, but in the northeastern states of Assam and Manipur authorities have declared droughts after scant rain.

POWER SUPPLIES

The India Meteorological Department has also forecast patchy rain in Punjab and Haryana where deficient monsoons have encouraged rice farmers to switch to premium grades, which require less water but are more prone to disease.

A 30 percent rainfall deficit in Assam, a tea- and rice-producing state, led to extensive crop damage and industry officials said tea prices had soared.

"An action plan has been worked out to provide water to the people in the affected area, so that there should not be any shortage of drinking water," said Tarun Gogoi, Assam's chief minister.

Weak rains forced the federal government to divert power supplies to the countryside to irrigate rice and oilseed crops and limit damage, a move which threatens to worsen the summer power deficit that has plagued India for decades.

Though India's farm minister said on Monday he expected the monsoon rains to improve, jitters prompted New Delhi to stop wheat exports 10 days after it lifted a two-year ban on shipments.

Trade Minister Anand Sharma on Wednesday told parliament the government would not raise import taxes on palm oils, to keep prices down. There is worry the monsoon could harm the oilseed crop and send prices up.

Edible oil producers want a higher tax to curb surging imports.

In flood-prone Orissa the government told local authorities to stock food and put rescue teams on standby as heavy rain stranded thousands, with more downpours were expected.

Source:: http://www.reuters.com

Yesterday night Very heavy rainfall over western slopes of Nilgiris, Gudalur Bazzar (Nilgiris dt) 33 cm & Naduvattam (Nilgiris dt) 19 cm.

#Nagercoil - Lots of low cloud formation towards evening, 90% possibility of rain tonight. Yesterday night rainfall was 2 cm.

Latest sat.pic.:: Shows more heavy rain for coastal Karnataka, Kerala, Gujarat and M.P .. http://ping.fm/6lJDA

Chennai - Heavy rain cloud formation over main Chennai, like yesterday same time. Brace urself for a sharp shower or Just clouds clear up.

www.INDIANWEATHERMAN.com, is temporarily re-directed to our blog www.indiaweather.co.cc, From now on always visit Indianweatherman.com

Chennai - partly cloudy with high dead clouds and patchy low cloud formations can be seen. Windy too.!

Overnight continuous downpour in Gadag region (reported by our friend)

Very Heavy Rainfall on 14-Jul-2009

KERALA

Vythiri	20
Nilambur	8
Peermade	8

SOUTH INTERIOR KARNATAKA

Bhagamandala	30
Kottigehara	25
Kammaradi	25
Humchadakatte	23
Ponnampet	21
Hosanagara	17
Thirthahalli	17
Linganamakki	16
Jayapura	16
NR Pura	13
Mudigere	13
Madikeri	13
Sringeri	12

NORTH INTERIOR KARNATAKA

Khanapura	17
Belgaum	10

COASTAL KARNATAKA

Kollur	21
Siddapura(Udupi)	20
Bhatkal	18
Jagalbet	15
Dharmasthala	13
Siddapura(UK)	13
Yellapura	13
Belthangadi	12
Gerusoppa	12
Banavasi	12

TAMILNADU & PUDUCHERRY

Gudalur Bazar	20
Naduvattam	18
Chinna Kalar	10
Devala	9
Uthagamandalam	9
Periyar Dam	6
Valparai	4

CHHATTISGARH

Charama	31
Durg	22
Rajnandgaon	14
Balod	12
Bhanupratappur	12

VIDARBHA

Kurkheda	30
Gondia	15
Katole	15
Deori	13
Nagbhir	13

KONKAN & GOA

Bhira	33
Matheran	31
Karjat	30
Mumbai(SCZ)	27
Dharavi	25
Mahad	25
Pali	23
Poladpur	23
Panvel	23
Roha	20
Dahanu	19
Khalapur	19
Mandangad	18
Tala	16

MADHYA MAHARASHTRA

Mahabaleshwar	41
Satara	11
Gaganbavda	10

Rainfall in Gujarat on 14-Jul:: Silvasa 16,Umargoan 15,Madhuban 11,
Ahmedabad 9,Anand 9 cm each.

After a long time UTTARAKHAND is also receiving rainfall:: Purola 9,Dunda 4,Chinyalisaur 3,Nowgaon 3 cm each.

Orissa got widespread heavy rain on 14-Jul:: Madanpur Rampur 19,Titlagarh 15,Kalinga 14,Belgaon 13 cm each.

Nagercoil - Overnight heavy rain till morning.

Latest sat. pic shows:: Heavy rainfall over south-Gujarat, M.P and entire west coast.. http://ping.fm/YqGHJ

(cont.).. coastal and interior Karnataka got a beating from Monsoon. Along with western Nilgiris , Gudalur Bazaar (Nilgiris dt) got 20 cm.

Rainfall on 14-Jul-09:: Bhagamandala (Kodagu dt) 30, Kottigehara and Kammardi (both Chickmaglur dt) 25 cm, Humchadakatte (Shimoga dt) 23 cm