The spectre of drought looms large over parts of Uttar Pradesh as so far there is 58 per cent deficit rainfall. According to the Agriculture Department, rainfall shortfall is likely to adversely impact the yield of paddy crops by as much as 35-40 per cent.
The situation in UP is grim, as the state has recorded only 251.7 mm rainfall against the seasonal average of 449.1 mm till August 12. Of the 71 districts in the state, rainfall in 12 has been 80 per cent below average, while it has been 40 per cent below average in 31 more districts.
The worst affected districts in UP include Farrukhabad (-77 per cent), Jaunpur (-72 per cent), Kanpur Dehat (-70 per cent), Mau (-65 per cent), Chandauli (-63 per cent), Ballia and Bahraich (-62 per cent each), Basti (-59 per cent), Amethi (-57 per cent), Banda (-52 per cent) and Ayodhya (-51 per cent).
According to the Central Water Commission, UP’s reservoirs have filled up to 28 per cent of the total storage capacity of eight dams. In 2021, it was 53 per cent. The current water reserves are 2.15 BCM against a 10-year average of 3.09 BCM.
From June 1 to early August the average rainfall per district has been 125.9 mm whereas it should have been 298.7 mm to keep up with the long-term average. Regions of western Uttar Pradesh have been worst hit by the prevailing weather conditions. In western Uttar Pradesh, from June 1 to July-end rainfall has been 139.9 mm, which is 58 per cent below average.
Gorakhpur district receives the highest rainfall in UP across the southwest monsoon season. Districts in the northeast of Uttar Pradesh (except Kushinagar and Ballia) receive high rainfall in comparison to districts in the southwest.
During the southwest monsoon season, rainfall between 421-560 mm is commonly received over Baghpat, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Mathura, Hathras, Etah, Ayodhya, Agra, Etawah, Kannauj, Auraiya, Kanpur Dehat, and Kanpur Nagar, Mahoba, Rae Bareli, Kaushambi and Kushinagar districts. The lowest rainfall during June to August was recorded over Mathura, Auraiya, Rae Bareli and Mahoba.
During the same period, rainfall in state capital Lucknow has been 57 per cent below average. In Kanpur, it was 49 per cent below average, in Prayagraj 39 per cent and in Varanasi 51 per cent below average.
