Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reviewed the situation arising from deficient rainfall during a Union Cabinet meeting and directed all concerned ministries and departments to prepare contingency plans and work in close coordination to minimise any adverse impact on key sectors, sources said.
According to sources, the Prime Minister emphasised the need for a whole-of-government approach to tackle the effects of below-normal rainfall. He asked ministries to remain prepared and ensure seamless coordination to address challenges related to agriculture, water availability, power supply and other essential services.
Around 10 ministries, including the Ministries of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Jal Shakti and Power, have been tasked with jointly monitoring the evolving monsoon situation and formulating a coordinated response. They have been asked to regularly assess ground conditions, exchange information in real time and ensure timely implementation of necessary measures wherever required.
Sources said the Prime Minister stressed that preparedness should remain the government's top priority and instructed officials to eliminate any gaps in inter-ministerial coordination.
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The Centre will continue to closely monitor rainfall patterns and take decisions based on assessments submitted by the concerned ministries.
The review comes a day after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast that rainfall across the country during July is likely to remain below normal. According to the weather office, the country's average rainfall for the month is expected to fall below the long-period average (LPA) of 280.4 mm based on data from 1971-2020.
The IMD has projected below-normal rainfall over most parts of the country, except for some areas of northwest and northeast India, east-central India and the eastern peninsular region, where rainfall is expected to be normal to above normal.
The weather agency also said weak El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions currently prevail over the equatorial Pacific Ocean, while neutral Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) conditions are being observed over the Indian Ocean. Neutral IOD conditions are expected to persist through the remainder of the southwest monsoon season.
The government's review reflects growing attention to the progress of the monsoon, which remains crucial for agriculture, water resources and the broader economy.
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