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As the southwest monsoon enters the last leg (it starts withdrawing from September), the overall rain deficit across the country after the June-August period stands at 16 per cent.
The biggest shortfall has been witnessed in the north-western parts of India, where the deficit was as high as 35 per cent after three months, triggering fears of a meteorological drought in those parts.
Though the monsoon has revived in recent days over the northern parts, experts said it might not be strong enough to wipe off the seasonal shortfall.
"The average monthly rainfall in September for the country is a paltry 173 millimetres; therefore forecast of good rain in the first week of September will not be able to wipe out any substantial deficit," private weather forecaster Skymet Weather Services said in its latest update.
August has been by far the best monsoon month this year, receiving 236.8 mm of rain against the monthly average of 261 mm. There were nine days of above-normal rain, while in 22 days the rainfall was below normal.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) has maintained that declaration of drought in any part of the country could only be made after September. The southwest monsoon enters India in June and starts retreating from the northern parts around September-end.
IMD data showed Punjab and Haryana, the two leading agrarian states, have received 65 per cent less rain this year.
Punjab received 138 mm, against a normal of 400.7 mm for the period. Haryana received only 131.3 mm against normal a 380.3 mm.
The Punjab government had sought a special package of Rs 2,330 crore from the Centre to deal with prolonged dry spell conditions, while Haryana demanded a special package of Rs 4,829 crore to deal with the drought-like conditions in the state. In Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, the rainfall deficit after the June-August period has been around 20 per cent and 37 per cent, respectively.
In a related development, the Met department said though the first sign of withdrawal of southwest monsoon starts from the first week of September, this year it might not be the case.
"The withdrawal may not commence on the lines of last year but is surely going to surpass the first week," Skymet said.
