Thursday, July 16, 2009

LIVE - Seismic Monitor

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