Monsoon retreats on deficient note in Punjab, Himachal, dams nearly half empty

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 8

The monsoon is finally over in North India for this year, with the withdrawal being on a deficient note and half empty dams. While rain during the prolonged season was deficient in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, it was noticeably surplus in Haryana.

“Southwest monsoon has further withdrawn from some more parts of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, most parts of Rajasthan, entire Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and some parts of Uttar Pradesh,” a statement issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) read.

An analysis of the data compiled by the IMD from June 1 to October 8 this year reveals that while rain was surplus by 31.3 per cent in Haryana, it was below the long period average by 4.2 per cent in Punjab and 9.4 per cent in Himachal.

During the aforementioned period, Haryana received 580.9 mm rainfall against the normal of 442.4 mm, whereas Punjab and Himachal received 450.2 mm and 698.3 mm, respectively against the normal of 470.1 and 771.1 mm, respectively.

The situation at major dams in the region is not very good. According to information released by the Central Water Commission (CWC) on October 7, the current storage at Thein Dam on the Ravi in Punjab is just 43 per cent of its total capacity as compared to the 10-year average of 73 per cent.

Pong Dam on the Beas in Himachal has filled up to 55 per cent of its total capacity this year as compared to the 10-year average of 84 per cent. The situation at Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej is a little better, with the current storage being 69 per cent as compared to the 10-year average of 85 per cent.