Annual rainfall below average, so far
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 23 2015 :
Since the annual rainfall received by the State is far below the average, the State Govt needs to come out with a long term policy to solve any crisis relating to it, said environmentalist Dr Kh Shamungou, who is also the chairman of State Environment Impact Assessment Authority.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, Dr Shamungou said that the present climate condition is the impact of global climate change phenomenon.
He said that transplantation of paddy is generally over before the annual Kang festival in the past.
But now, the transplantation of paddy is delayed by a month or two due to inadequate rainfall.
As such, the Govt should come out with a long term policy to solve the problem, he felt.
The Govt has already come out with a short term policy to solve water crisis.
Likewise, it should also formulate a long-term policy to address the imminent crisis, he said.
It is now the time to speed up afforestation work in catchment areas and preserve forest areas, he said.
Interacting with The Sangai Express, Dr T Brajakumar, Junior Research Officer of Directorate of Environment, a State nodal agency of Climate Change, said that many villages in the hills are compelled to relocate to other places due to shortage of water.
Villages suffixed with 'khunou' are those that shifted or migrated to other places due to shortage of water, he said while adding that this is a global climate change phenomenon.
He stressed the need to give emphasis on catchment areas.
Meanwhile, a source from the State Agriculture Dept said that the average annual rainfall is 1435.60 mm.
The State received 41.3 mm rainfall in January against the average of 16.30 mm.
In February, the rainfall in the State was 5.4 mm against the State's average of 36 mm.
In March, the rainfall was just 17.5 mm against the average of 65.50 mm.
In April, the rainfall received by the State was 199.5 mm against the average of 137.80 while the rainfall in May was 85.4 mm against the average of 203.90 mm.
Rainfall received for June is just 18.1 against the average of 280.20 mm.