-PTI “Don’t dig the well when the house is on fire,” the Supreme Court on Wednesday observed as it warned the Centre of not repeating last year’s “mistakes” in tackling the drought situation in various parts of the country this time. Asking the government to be ready with relief measures for drought in certain parts of country this year, the apex court said: “We are concerned about the approach. You should change...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: The countrywide monsoon rainfall this season was three per cent below average instead of the predicted six per cent above average, but it was distributed well enough to promise good crop yields, scientists said. An end-of-season analysis by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) shows that the quantum of the all-India rainfall was about 97 per cent of the long-period average. It also reveals that 27 of the country’s 35...

-Livemint.com At least 150 villages in Karnataka have already qualified as drought affected, with more being added as rainfall continues to be deficient, according to a Cabinet minister Bengaluru: The Karnataka government could well be on its way to declare the state as drought-affected after nearly two months of dry spell, according to two people familiar with the move. At least 150 villages in the state have already qualified as drought affected,...

-The Times of India CHANDIGARH: Even though most parts of India have witnessed normal rainfall this monsoon season, the bread basket states - Punjab and Haryana - have received deficient showers (more than 20-59% below the normal) in the June 1 to September 16 period. With the monsoon entering the withdrawal stage in north west India, the situation is unlikely to improve in the next fortnight, putting these states at the...

-Livemint.com India has so far received 5% lower rainfall, compared with the long period average, since the onset of the June-to-September monsoon India has so far received 5% lower rainfall, compared with the long period average (LPA), since the onset of the June-to-September monsoon. Around 86% of India has received normal to excess rainfall while 14% still faces a deficit. The India Meteorology Department (IMD) in June forecast that seasonal rainfall is likely...