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April 24, 2017

DROUGHT YEARS: KARNATAKA LOOKS TO WEATHER THE STORM WITH ITS OWN FORECAST

Quick question: Which is the driest state in India?

Correct. Rajasthan.

Next question: Which state comes next? Yes. Karnataka.

In the last 16 years, Karn­a­taka has faced drought for 13 years. But in all these years, national reports, drawn from Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) data, have said that monsoon was either normal or above average.

This huge gap between what IMD forecasts for all of India and the actual rains that Karnataka receives has left the state high and dry. The state government has now decided to come up with its own forecast model for South-West monsoon that will address this issue and help farmers who have been hit the hardest due to the many years of drought.


The state government has agreed in principle to a proposal sent by the scientists at the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) for its own forecast for the South-West monsoon. Acknowledging that KSNDMC is working on preparing its own monsoon forecast for Karnataka Dr GS Srinivasa Reddy, Director, KSNDMC, said that they have been in talks with the Bengaluru-based Centre for Mathematical Modelling and Computer Simulation for preparation of weather models that can be adopted for preparing actual forecast of monsoon.
“We have already spoken to the scientists at the Centre for Mathematical Modelling and Computer Simulation. IMD’s forecast is based on scientific model that are created as per international standards. Similarly, we too have to come up with a similar model for assessment of rainfall. As we do not have that expertise, we are in talks with the scientists to come up with a model specifically suiting the climatic and geographic conditions of Karnataka based on which we can come up with our own forecast,” Reddy said.

In fact, the KSNDMC has been working on a project to identify vulnerability taluks that are prone to drought. Based on the historical data coupled with actual findings over the past few decades, the taluks that are prone to drought in the coming days will be identified in the process. The exercise will help the government in prepare for adverse conditions well in advance and thereby minimise the drought effect by taking remedial measures.


Bengaluru has 174 flood-prone areas

Ever wondered why Bengaluru is brought to its knees even with the slightest of showers? It’s because our city has 174 flood-prone areas and seven locations which witness intense floods even with a mere 10 mm of rain.

Dr Shubha Avinash, Scientist (Hydrology), KSNDMC said, “Bengaluru had more than 200 low-lying and flooding-prone areas. However, based on our suggestion of remodelling of slope orientation of SWDs, widening of SWDs, de-silting and other techniques several areas have been dropped from the flood prone area list. Currently, we have 174

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