Friday, July 24, 2009
5.05 m high tide likely to hit Mumbai
As light showers continued in the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has geared up to tackle any emergency situation arising out of the 5.05 metre high tide, likely to hit the metropolis' shores today.
The civic body is prepared to drain out excessive rain water accumulating in the city and its suburbs if heavy rains coincide with the high-tide, likely to hit at 1403 hours.
The Meterological department has forecast heavy rains orthundershowers in parts of the city and its suburbs today.
Colaba and suburban Santacruz recorded 18.9 mm and 56.1 mm rainfall respectively.
The Met department has advised fishermen not to go in the sea as it would be rough with strong gusty winds.
Meanwhile, rail as well as air traffic were largely unaffected and no traffic snarls were reported.
A high tide of 5.01 m accompanied by strong gusty windshad hit the shores of the city yesterday which resulted in inundation at many parts of the metropolis.
Images
Tide warning Chart
Danger for Chennai - ## Early Alert ##
Rainfall stats for Chennai from Jan-2009 to Jun-2009::
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Average Rainfall(mm):: 17 24 20 18 33 53
Actual(mm):: 21.2 0 2 0 14.6 22.6
Departure(%):: +33% -100% -33% -100% -70% -58%
The above stats look bleak. Overall we have a deficiency of 95% And JULY so far is also WAY behind the average.
Already most of Chennai suburbs are under "water scarcity" zone. (latest by 20-Jul-09)
And "IF our favorite NORTH-EAST monsoon fails".. then ??
We'll monitor the situation and report continously.
Monsoon shutters dreams of Coffee growers
Madikeri, Karnataka, July 24 : Dreams of Coffee planters were shuttered as fruits have dropped due to heavy rainfall that lashed the District since onset of South West Monsoon.
The delayed monsoon created high hope in the planters as the fruits took a fast growth and grew in size. The jingling branches projected bounty. As the fate would have it, the heavy rainfall has turned the fruits down on to land. While the present fall is due to the lashing effect, the expert says that there will be further fall due to the weakening of fruit base or decaying.
The growers from Birunai in South Kodagu alleged that the government had promised to provide insurance coveraga for crop loss during last season and never kept up its promise. They explain the irony that for a naked eye the coffee berry looks thick and healthy.
But they keep falling before ripening.
Ajjamada Shankaru Nachappa, secretary of the Srimangala Coffee Growers Association told UNI that similar situation was experienced in 2007 and the government had promised to pay compensation. It was a blatant lie and they never received any assistance. He said that the government had announced a compensation of Rs 6000 per hectare during 2007.
"Hundreds of applications were forwarded. The coffee board conducted a survey and the then deputy commissioner Niranjan suggested alteration in the RTC and hundreds of rupees was spent on rectifying records with a hope of getting compensation. The planters regretfully state that they never received a single pie so far," he added.
Birunani receives highest rainfall. It had received 288.77 inches during 2008. It has received nearly 80 inches of rainfall during this month. The planters told that orange and Pepper crops are also suffering due to heavy rainfall. The planters are suffering with multifold problems. The weather plays a spoil sports. There is labor problem and they have to pa double to those who are available. There is crop loss. Added to the agony is the crocodile tears from the politicians and non cooperation from officers and government.
They have appealed to the government and peoples representatives to look into the problems of the planters with sincerity and provide assistance.
Naked girls plough parched fields
Patna, India - Farmers in an eastern Indian state have asked their unmarried daughters to plough parched fields naked in an attempt to embarrass the weather gods to bring some badly needed monsoon rain, officials said on Thursday.
Witnesses said the naked girls in Bihar state ploughed the fields and chanted ancient hymns after sunset to invoke the gods. They said elderly village women helped the girls drag the ploughs.
"They (villagers) believe their acts would get the weather gods badly embarrassed, who in turn would ensure bumper crops by sending rains," Upendra Kumar, a village council official, said from Bihar's remote Banke Bazaar town"This is the most trusted social custom in the area and the villagers have vowed to continue this practice until it rains very heavily."
India this year suffered its worst start to the vital monsoon rains in eight decades, causing drought in some states.
Source:: http://ow.ly/i4ie