Great to see Monsoon rains picking up

Monsoon Rains in India over the past two seasons

The seasons 2014-15 and 2015-16 were not very good for Indian Agricultural system and markets in terms of the Monsoon Rainfall that came. In many areas the rainfall received was either too less, or 80 to 85% of normal. Farmers in many places like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh etc suffered due to the droughts.

There was an exception of Chennai in the southernmost Indian state of Tamilnadu, which saw an abnormal and unprecedented floods which bought life to a standstill. The severe floods tested the people of Chennai, the Corporate and Government Offices too were not spared and it was a challenge for the local as well as the national authorities.

However, people stood up to this nature’s fury very very bravely.

People contributed in Kind and in cash, and also volunteered to help people in distress.

However, Chennai floods of 2015 would be a separate big topic by itself.

Yet in most of the places in North, West and probably central India, lesser rains caused distress of drought and reduced available water.

Situation in summers of 2016 and now

By April of this year, Marathwada region and especially Latur, and some places in Uttar Pradesh had so much water shortage even in dams that water trains had to be organized.

There was a lot of hue and cry and even international attention came to this problem.

However, rain god has come to the rescue of Central and State Indian Governments and common citizens, especially farmers and even people selling products. Many regions like in Andhra Pradesh as well as Uttarakhand and even in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have been impacted by floods.

Delhi NCR too after a subdued early July has seen rain pickup over last few days.

True, due to faulty urban infrastructure design and improper de-silting, there are traffic jams owing to waterlogging at many places, but it feels better than those very hot days of 45 plus temperatures.

The pleasant winds and lush green trees and plants are a sight to soak in.

I just think that hopefully due to the public awareness caused by the drought conditions in summers has made the authorities and people to go for rainwater harvesting or other forms of water storage and revival of traditional water storage like Baolis(Traditional Indian water storage places).

I believe that Rainwater is a precious commodity and one must aim to save it in some form or other so that it can be harnessed to serve the water needs- at least non-potable water for people.

What do you think?