Thane District Records Decade’s Highest Rainfall this Season

5th Dec, 2017

THANE: The district witnessed the strongest monsoon of the decade this year recording a total rainfall of 3206.4mm across the seven talukas from June to September.

The abundant rainfall has in turn brought good news both for the urban and rural pockets of the district because this translates into ample water supply both for domestic and agriculture needs.

The data available with the district revenue department shows that the monsoon period this year has broken the ten-year record of heavy rainfall also surpassing the average count of 2422.6mm for this region.

The highest rainfall in the decade in the district till now was in 2013 when it showered an average of 2,999mm.

On the other hand, the weakest rains were recorded in 2009 when it rained a mere average of 1,543.2mm. In 2015, when the district faced an acute water crisis , the rainfall had fared a tad better at 1,749mm.

Rainfall is measured using rain gauges installed at various spots in the talukas. The readings are taken on a daily basis at the taluka level and an average is calculated later for the entire district, a revenue official explained. Thane district comprises of seven talukas. Thane, Kalyan, Bhiwandi and Ambernath are the prominent talukas.

The monsoon reading has been traditionally measured for four months between June and September.

The statistics obtained from the district office reveal that despite witnessing the strongest monsoon this year, none of the four months strangely have registered the highest rainfall in the same period since 2013.

The highest average June rainfall was witnessed in 2013 when it showered around 999mm across the district while 2014 saw the highest rains recorded for July. 2011 saw the highest August showers at 893mm while the highest September showers were recorded in 2012 at 590mm.

Officials say the high rainfall records definitely mean good for the urban and rural pockets of Thane district. The irrigation department has found that the water supply in the reservoirs is ample for this year and it will last till the next monsoon.

Residents can be assured of no water cuts for the next few seasons unless an emergency occurs.

The agriculture department has also been expecting that around 80,000 hectares of land under the kharif and rabi cultivation will benefit from the heavy rains.

"The abundant rains this year will definitely help the rabi crops as compared to the last few years. The dampness in the soil that is likely to last for the next three months because of a possibly good percolation of rainwater will help improve the productivity this year. We expect a bountiful harvest of rabi vegetables like okra and food grains like waal and grams that is traditionally sown here," said an official from the agriculture department.

Meanwhile, the stock in the reservoirs supplying water to the urban areas of the district also reached satisfactory levels by the end of September following which the irrigation officials ruled out water cuts to homes and industries here.

However, the residents of Thane district have some reason to worry as the underground water stock is reportedly depleting fast with levels in nearly 19 of the 38 surveyed areas across six talukas registering a five-year low this season. Experts have attributed this shocking trend to reckless drawing of ground water, thanks to inadequate supply by the civic body coupled with poor percolation of rain water due to rampant concretization.

 

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com