Confusion about exact rainfall record in Parbhani on Thursday night

Government has a system on different levels to record rainfall in every district. The timing of sowing and government policy about declaring drought, crop insurance are determined on the basis of the recorded data. But in Parbhani district, there has been utter confusion about the recorded data of pre monsoon showers occurred on Thursday night.

Parbhani (Maharashtra): Confusion prevailed over the exact rainfall data at Parbhani on Thursday after three government agencies three different figures. While the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) claimed to have recorded 186.2 mm rainfall in the district over the span of four hours on midnight, the revenue department recorded 85 mm rainfall.

Interestingly, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agriculture University has recorded 58.8 mm rainfall for the same period. The confusion is about the actual figure of rainfall that day. The collector has appointed inquiry committee of five officials to decide which is the exact figure.

In every district, the government has a system to record the rainfall. The decisions about time for sowing and government policy of drought, crop insurance are taken based on this data. But, in Parbhani, complications have been created by the recorded data of pre-monsoon showers.

After the complications, District Collector Deepak Muglikar has appointed a five-member inquiry committee to find out how much rainfall occurred on that night exactly. The committee comprises of an official from IMD and five other members. It will submit its report within two days and the exact rainfall figure will be ascertained after the report.

IMD observatory is situated in premises of public works department office. On 12th of June midnight, it recorded a rainfall of 186.2 mm between 1 to 5 am. Collector's office is at the distance of just one and a half km and the revenue department’s rain gauge is kept there. It recorded 85 mm rainfall.

While the agriculture university observatory is just 3 km away from district collector and they have recorded 58.8 mm rainfall.

Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agriculture university’s meteorological department chief Dr Kailas Dakhore, in this regard, said that there has been variation in data recorded by Parbhani agriculture university, Indian Meteorological Department and revenue department. They were pre-monsoon showers and now monsoon has started everywhere. It occurs the same in all areas.

This year monsoon will be normal and so it is necessary to keep maximum mechanisms to count rainfall to determine sowing of the suitable crop in the area. As there is a scarcity of these mechanisms, this type of variation occurs. So, maximum mechanisms should be established. Planning of Kharif and Rabbi crops depends upon rainfall and farmers have definitely benefitted by such forecast.

The collector said that if the rainfall is good, farmers sow soybean and cotton in Kharif and gram in Rabbi. If rainfall is less they tend to manage with the intercrop.

Mi Atmahatya Karnar Nahi (I will not commit suicide) campaign Maharashtra Chief Manik Kadam severely criticized sloppy management of government machinery.

He said that Maharashtra Meteorological Department has become a white elephant. The fact that the government department has always undermined peasants is proved by the recent rainfall. Raising the question of how different data is recorded for rainfall on the same day, Kadam lashed out at government meteorological department. He also demanded that farmers representative should be included in the committee to investigate this matter appointed by the administration.