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Monsoon Delayed monsoon has increased the problems of the farmers of India especially of north-Indian farmers but on the other hand state and the centre governments are reluctant to declare the situation officially a ‘draught’. Metrological department had predicted that this year the monsoon will be late by 15 days as compared to the normal monsoon. It has also been predicted that this year whole of the India will witness below than normal rainfall during the rainy season. Thus delayed monsoon has created the danger of another draught and the related predictions have created horrors of bad effect on the rural economy that is totally based on the conditions of season. Minister Prithavirak Chauhan had told the reporters a few days ago that during the months of June, July and September south-west monsoon will be below normal. For whole of the country the average rainfall will be around 93 per cent which is 3 per cent less as compared to the April month’s prediction about the rainy season. He did not answer any other question about the present situation. He did not show any seriousness to answer the questions related to the water scarcity and draught situation. He only said that at present the situation so serious as it is being projected but every department of the government has plans to meet any kind of situation.

Farmers In north-India the sowing of paddy has started and the demand for water and electricity supply is very high but the availability of electricity and canal water is unable to meet demands of the farmers. Farmers have delayed the sowing of various crops because of delayed monsoon. In the states of Punjab and Haryana the farmers have started to agitate against their respected governments for inadequate electricity and water supply. In the absence of proper electricity supply and delayed monsoon farmers have resorted to alternatives to sow their paddy and other crops in time which has increased the amount of investments. It must be learnt that wheat production was very low because of the late rainfall and it had decreased the incomes of the farmers. In some areas of the north-Indian stated the farmers could not even get enough production that could be equal to their investments and many had committed suicides but all these issues could not find the headlines of various national level newspapers. It had happened because it was the election time and such kind of issues could tarnish the image of state and the centre governments. There is no doubt that rural sector has always been ignored by the government. That is why farmers are indifferent to government’s various policies because those policies are made in air-conditioned rooms by those people who have no basic knowledge of agriculture and the ground level situations.

Reservoir This has not ended here. The water level in the Bhakra Dam is alarmingly very low. It must be learnt that Bhakra Dam is one of the main source of electricity supply and carnal water supply to four states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. This has happened because of the scanty rainfall and melting of snow in the catchment areas of the dam. A few days ago the inflow of water was less than the outflow of 28000 cusecs per day.  The Bhakra Beas Mangement Board had called a meeting in which the representatives of all these four state took part and it was decided that the outflow will be reduced to 22.000 cusecs per day and this decision has been implemented till July 10. The demand of water supply in all these states is very high because of the sowing of the paddy but when Board told the serious situation the decision of cut in supply of was taken by all of them.  If the inflow of water does not improve by July 10 the cut in outflow will remain in power till the situation improves. It must be leant that from July to September, water is stored in the reservoir to meet various demands of all these states during whole of the year.