Of 23 districts in Punjab, four recorded much above rainfall the normal while over 10 districts have been facing the problem of rain deficit even in full monsoon season. (Source: Express Archive)

Despite forecast of a good monsoon, around 50 per cent districts of Punjab, which account for the highest contribution of rice crop, around 30-35 per cent (one-third of the country) to the central pool, and neighboring Haryana are still dry in the season of the water-guzzling paddy rice growing crop.

Although the states had witnessed almost normal pre-monsoon showers, which was an indication of the good monsoon this year, now insufficient rain in several districts has put an extra burden on the underground water of the state, which is growing 29-30 lakh hectares of paddy rice this year.

Till July 20, around 152.2 mm monsoon rain was received by the state against the normal 162.0 mm which is -6 per cent departure from the normal rainfall. However, the main concern is that around 50 per cent districts of Punjab are facing deficit of rain despite over all good rainfall.

The information procured from the Met department revealed that of 23 districts, four recorded much above normal rainfall while over 10 districts, including Faridkot, Firozpur, Fathegarh Sahib, Mohali, Patiana, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Ludhiana etc have been facing the problem of rain deficit even in full monsoon season. Firozpur is witnessing -70 per cent rainfall on monsoon the district had also witnessed -93 per cent pre-monsoon rainfall. Against the 110.4 mm normal rainfall which the district should get by now, it has received only 33.6 mm, a departure of -70 per cent from the normal.

Mohali and Patiala also got -62 and -50 per cent rainfall respectively. Jalandhar and Hohiarpur received -55 and -29 per cent of rainfall till date this year.