State faces dry November, will add pressure on ground, canal water

After a deficient monsoon, Punjab will experience a dry November this year with just a trace of rain being experienced in one district and the weather department not expecting any showers during the remaining days of the month.

Lack of rainfall will have an impact on the post-sowing period for wheat cultivation. Light rain generally experienced during this season is beneficial for irrigation and also for the recharge of groundwater, which is already stressed in many areas. Besides reducing dependence on canal water, rain also helps lower the temperature, which is suitable for wheat and other rabi crops.

Rainfall in the state has been deficient by 99 per cent during this month. From November 1 till November 25, only 0.2 mm rain was received as compared to the long period average of 4.2 mm for this period.

Amritsar is the sole district in the state to experience rain in the aforementioned period, getting just 0.2 mm against the normal of 5.3 mm, according to data compiled by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The situation is not good in the neighbouring states of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh either. While Haryana has remained totally dry this month, Himachal is also facing a shortfall of 99 per cent. The post-monsoon seasonal rain deficit so far this year is 80 per cent for Punjab, 96 per cent for Haryana and 98 per cent for Himachal.

Lack of rain also implies more dependence on groundwater and canal water. The Bhakra Beas Management Board that operates two major reservoirs crucial for irrigation and power generation has already sounded a cautionary note to state governments over below-normal water levels prevailing at Bhakra and Pong dams.

Autumn and winter rain also lower the temperature. During the past 24 hours, the maximum temperature recorded in the state was in the range of 24.6 degree Celsius at Thein near Pathankot to 29.3 degrees Celsius at Faridkot.

The minimum temperature prevailing during this period was between 8 degrees Celsius at Faridkot to 13 degrees Celsius at Mohali, which was above normal at some places by up to 2.4 degrees, IMD data shows.

While a bulletin issued by IMD on November 26 states that there is no forecast for rain in Punjab till December 2, a fresh western disturbance is like to affect the western Himalayan region from November 29.

Jet Stream Winds at an altitude of 12.6 km above mean sea level with speeds up to 140 knots (about 260 kmph) are also prevailing over Northwest India.