Monsoon bids adieu to state

AHMEDABAD: Temperatures hovered around 35 degrees celsius in major cities in the state as monsoon shows signs of withdrawal. Officials say that monsoon has been very good in the state, which has received 119.6 per cent of average seasonal rainfall. Last year, the state had got just 76 per cent average rains.
The dams, too, have received nearly 82 per cent of water.Dams also have 1,24,319 million cubic feet (mcft) of water more as compared to last year's data. According to IMD officials, Saurashtra and Kutch had an excess rainfall while the rest of the state has had normal rainfall. According to IMD website, Saurashtra and Kutch should have received around 471.9mm of rainfall, but the region has so far received 1001.6mm. Similarly, the rest of the state should have received 878.5mm against which it has received 1003.2mm.
However, according to the state flood control department, the total rainfall in the state was 1021mm as against the annual rainfall of 854.77mm. Of the 225 talukas, there are just nine talukas which have received 500mm of rainfall. Of the remaining 216 talukas, 59 talukas have received over 1200mm of rainfall.
Giving the month-wise break-up, officials said in June the state received just 68.26mm rains, followed by 362.86mm in July and 384.15mm rains in August. In September, the state has received another 206.33mm taking the total to 1021mm.
Even in the dams, there is enough water. The 196 dams have 82.11 per cent water as against their storage capacity. The maximum water is in Saurashtra region where the 132 dams have nearly 91.19 per cent water. The situation is bad in north Gujarat as the dams have only 44.67 per cent water. Of the 196 dams, there are 130 dams which have over 90 per cent of water as against the storage capacity, while another nine dams have water between 80 and 90 per cent of their storage capacity. Of these130 dams, 101 dams are overflowing, said officials.