With the
south-west monsoon failing to gain momentum, Kerala has registered a 20 per
cent deficiency in rainfall after three weeks of its onset, sending danger
signals to power and farm sectors. According to the Meteorological Centre here
today, the state had so far received only 433.3 mm rainfall since the onset of
monsoon on June 6 against the normal 540 mm rains expected in the period. Most
districts have recorded shortfall in rains. Deficient rains at the catchment
areas of major reservoirs, especially in Idukki, has rendered the power
scenario bleak since the state depends heavily on hydro electric project for
domestic generation of power. Registering a drastic fall, Idukki reservoir
received only 468.2 mm of rainfall till yesterday compared to 1,071.8 mm during
the same period last year. Despite passing through a phase of acute power
shortage, the Government has decided to lift the 90-minute load-shedding from
tomorrow, apparently in view of the commencement of holy month of Ramadan and
football world cup matches. The supply-demand gap is to be met by borrowing
from outside sources like NTPC at higher cost.
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