Thursday, June 25, 2009

IMD dismisses 'El Nino' factor for slow progress of Monsoon

Even as a truant monsoon raised concerns over the prospects of Kharif crop, meteorologists here on Wednesday refused to give credence to the theory that the 'El Nino' impact could be the factor behind its slow progress in the country.

Still hopeful of its revival by the June end, India Meteorological Department's (IMD) Central Weather Observatory officials said the monsoon after getting stuck over Karnataka, was advancing further into southern parts of Gujarat, Kutch and Konkan.

A clearer picture on its further progress was expected to emerge on Thursday, they added.

However, the Deputy Director General (Weather Forecasting) A.B. Muzumdar on Wednesday sought to play down the reported 'El Nino' impact as being responsible for the tentative monsoon so far.

"This phenomenon occurs after every three to four years but it has no direct cause and effect relationship with the monsoons in India," he told PTI.