From close to 90 per cent during July 2012, rain deficiency in the Saurashtra and Kutch region has come down to 35 per cent, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Ahmedabad. As against a normal rainfall of 456.5 mm, the Saurashtra-Kutch sub division of IMD received actual rainfall of 295.4 mm.
While normal date for South West monsoon in Gujarat begins from June 15, it is July that usually receives maximum rainfall. "However, this year till almost August, rainfall deficiency in Saurashtra-Kutch was close to 90 per cent while that in the whole of Gujarat was about 80 per cent. But late rains have ensured that the deficiency has come down," said JN Sarkar, director of IMD Ahmedabad.
In the whole of Gujarat, as against normal rainfall of 633.1 mm, the state received actual rainfall of 442.6 mm, resulting in a deficit of 30 per cent. In the Gujarat region, a sub-division of IMD in the state that covers north, south and central Gujarat, the actual rainfall was 635.9 mm as compared to normal rainfall of 867.1 mm. The Gujarat region, hence, saw a deficiency of 27 per cent, said Sarkar.
IMD Ahmedabad, however, still termed rainfall in Gujarat as deficient, especially at a time when the monsoon is on a withdrawal mode. "The monsoon is on a withdrawal mode from September 24 onwards. Since no more rains is expected, the Gujarat state has this year received deficit monsoon," Sarkar added.
According to IMD data till July rainfall deficit ranged between 60 per cent to 90 per cent in most parts of the state.