New Delhi (ISJ) ? With Indian Meteorological Department downgrading its earlier prediction of a ?somewhat below normal rainfall? to ?deficient monsoon? rains, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked his cabinet colleagues to prepare a contingency for the worst.
?Sometimes, we also wish our predictions go wrong. This time, we want whatever we have predicted, we pray to god, its opposite should happen. Let?s pray to god that this year, whatever we have predicted is not the best of things we were able to predict,? said Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan in New Delhi on Tuesday (June 02).
Dr. Harsh Vardhan had announced on April 22, the long range forecast of southwest monsoon indicates ?somewhat below normal rainfall this year?. While the earlier prediction was put at 93% with a possible error of plus or minus five present, the latest figures show, rainfall will be around 88% with a possible error of plus or minus four percent. Rainfall in the northwest region of the country is expected to be 85% with plus or minus 4% error factor
The minister added, fresh predictions have a higher accuracy level of 93% as against 86% predicted six weeks ago. He said monsoon is expected to hit Kerala coast by June 05, late by five days.
Meanwhile, the federal Cabinet Secretary has called a meeting of all concerned bureaucrats to prepare contingency plans to deal with a below-par monsoon.
Deficient monsoon rains will further accentuate the ongoing farm distress in the country as over 60% of cultivable land in India continues to be rain-fed. The latest forecast could trigger fears of drought in the country, which could affect the price situation.
