Udupi district faces 31.39% deficit rainfall till July-end

UDUPI: Though Udupi district has received a good spell of rain since Thursday, there is fear among people that the coastal district could fall short of average rainfall. Less rain means drinking water crisis during next summer. Even after completion of the two months of kharif season, sowing operations in the district are yet to gather momentum due to deficit rainfall of 31.39% this time. Against normal rainfall of 2,785.9mm, the district has received only 1,911.5mm till end of July this year. The shortage of rain is likely to bring the area of cultivation in the district down. Agricultural department sources said paddy cultivation is yet to begin in full swing in the district. Last year in the same period, 93.74% of sowing operations in rice fields were completed, whereas this year only 77.97% of target has been reached. Sowing operation is completed in 35,087 hectare of rice field till July end as against in 42,185 hectares of paddy last year during this period. The agriculture department had set a target of cultivating 45,000 hectares of rice fields in the district. According to rain monitoring cell at the deputy commissioner's office in Rajathadri, the normal annual rainfall the district receives is 4,234mm. The district is facing rainfall deficit of 874.4mm till July end when compared to rainfall the district received last year in this period. Out of three taluks in Udupi district, Kundapur has received sufficient rainfall till July end. The taluk had received 1,687 mm rainfall last year till July end, but this year the taluk has received 1,983mm rainfall in this period. But the taluk has not received the rainfall to the extent of normal rainfall of 2,490mm that it should receive in this period. Karkala taluk, which is in the foothills of the Western Ghats too, has faced a rainfall deficit of 524.8mm this year till July end. The taluk has received 1,336.4mm rainfall till July end. The taluk had received excess rainfall of 379.6 mm last year. In the past, the district administration would gear up to combat flood situations for six to seven times by now in previous years. But this year, flood-like situation was witnessed only once on Friday in areas like Uppoor, and Nilavara. Fortunately, the reports of rain-related damages are less this year as compared to the previous years. -TOI