Shillong, July 2 (IANS) Meghalaya, known for hosting some of the wettest places on the earth, has recorded the highest monsoon rainfall deficit among all northeastern states this season, with precipitation falling 74 per cent below normal, according to the latest India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, officials said on Thursday.

A weather department official said that the IMD data showed that the state received only 192.9 mm of rainfall between June 1 and July 1 against the normal 750.8 mm, placing Meghalaya in the “large deficient” category.

On July 1 alone, the state recorded just 3 mm of rainfall against the normal 28.7 mm, marking a deficit of nearly 90 per cent.

The sharp decline in rainfall has raised concerns over its possible impact on agriculture, water resources and the state’s ecologically sensitive environment.

The deficit is particularly significant as Meghalaya is home to Sohra (Cherrapunji) and Mawsynram, globally renowned for receiving some of the highest annual rainfall.

The development has also renewed concerns over changing climatic conditions in the hill state.

On World Environment Day last month, Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Environment Committee Chairman Rakkam A. Sangma warned that the state was witnessing rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, increasing water scarcity and declining rainfall due to climate change.

He had urged citizens, communities and institutions to intensify conservation initiatives, including afforestation and protection of natural water sources, to mitigate the long-term impact of climate change.

The rainfall deficit has come at a crucial stage of the kharif season, with farmers across Meghalaya engaged in paddy cultivation and horticulture.

Experts fear that a prolonged dry spell could delay sowing, reduce soil moisture and affect crop yields if rainfall does not improve in the coming weeks.

Environmental experts have also cautioned that deficient rainfall could reduce river flows, affect groundwater recharge and put additional pressure on the state’s biodiversity and tourism sector, which attracts thousands of visitors during the monsoon.

According to the IMD, East and Northeast India as a whole recorded a cumulative rainfall deficit of 40 per cent during the period.

Meghalaya registered the highest shortfall, followed by Manipur (71 per cent), Nagaland (51 per cent) and Arunachal Pradesh (45 per cent), while Sikkim was the only northeastern state to receive above-normal rainfall, recording a 15 per cent surplus.

–IANS

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