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When entire
country refers northeast India as hot spot of biodiversity for
abundance of natural resources and plenty of water, the Indian
Meteorological Department (IMD) finds a reverse situation on
basis of data recorded in past two and half decades on weather
parameters. IMD has identified Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and
Nagaland, as 'rain deficient' states though the states are
ravaged by floods every year. It even predicted drought like
situation in states in near future.
The
statistics available with IMD, the states witnessed deficient
rainfall in last 21 years. Only in 1988, 1993, 1997 and 2003 the
four states had received average 17%, 9%, 2% and 3% excess
rainfall respectively. And the situation is no way different
this year. Record shows, the total rainfall in Tripura, Mizoram,
Manipur and Nagaland is average less than 26% till second week
of August 2006.
The annual
average rainfall statistics of this year up to 12th August 2006
adds the worry as it indicates that except Mizoram all other six
states of the region received short rainfall ranging -52% to
-14% [minus fifty two to fourteen percent]. However Tripura
stands alst in the deficit list and Nagaland rose to highest
point this year. The figure shows, Mizoram has already received
about 13% excess [plus thirteen precent] rainfall in comparison
with normal rainfall till date.
On
contrary, Tripura received (-) 14%, Assam (-) 33%, Meghalaya (-)
44%, Arunachal (-) 49%, Manipur (-) 51% and Nagaland (-) 52%
rain till second week of August. The monsoon graph has almost
ruled out then possibility of at least restore balance in this
year particularly in rest days of monsoon period. Not only that,
the trend indicated that the situation might not be improved in
next few years for there are enough reasons for worsening.
Explaining
the situation environmentalists termed it - 'Inter-annual
Variability of monsoon' because of year to year random
discrepancy of rainfall. On physical reason of the variation
experts say south-west monsoon always hit Himalayan foothill
last week of May and move towards northeast with highest
intensity but it never back once cross the Gangetic West Bengal
on way to central India. As a result, most of the NE states
receive high intensity rainfall during the onset and active
period of the monsoon, mostly in June and July. After that the
chance of heavy shower is very less.
Despite
the deficient rainfall the region is still getting average 2000
mm to 4000 mm rain every year, while the national average
rainfall is mere 850 mm. But unfortunately the states are still
stumbling to capitalise the downpour which has now become a
cause of concern. The use of ground water across the region
still remained far behind the scientific standard even though
the constant effort of environment activists to prevent misuse
of water and harvest the rainwater.
About 65
percent of annual rainwater in the region has flown away along
with the fertile part of cultivable land. As a result, the
crisis of potable water has emerged as a major issue for the
region. On the other population and economic growth, rapid
urbanization has put enormous pressure on its freshwater
resources.
The latest
report of Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) revealed that the
groundwater sources will be reached at saturated point by 2025
in at least 15 states including a few of northeast if the
current rate of ground water extraction continues.
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