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| Thursday, 19 August 2004 |
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Drought till October, warns Meteorology Dept The Department of Meteorology warned yesterday that drought-hit areas would not receive "significant rains" at least until October. The prolonged drought has affected nearly 400,000 families in five districts around the country. The Government has initiated relief efforts in the affected areas. The Department said that some drought-affected areas could benefit from the second inter monsoon in October-November. It is characterised by widespread thunderstorms which will bring rains to parts with drought at present. Several districts have experienced seasonal rainfalls lower than 50 per cent of the expected total and this has basically resulted in a drought in North, North West, North Central and South East Province. Under normal conditions the December-February monsoon brings rain to areas in the North, North central, East and Eastern slopes of the hills. The last North-East monsoon from December 2003 to February 2004, was very inactive with the total rainfall experienced over many parts figuring very much less than the expected total rainfall, the Department said, describing the reasons for the drought. The first inter monsoon prevails over the island during March-April and afternoon/evening thunderstorms are the usual rain bringing weather systems during this season. The first inter monsoon this year failed in a number of areas of the island of which majority are same districts that has had low rainfalls during last North-East monsoon 2004. This year, the rainfalls in May have been fairly satisfactory except for Eastern slopes, South east and the extreme West (including Badulla, Moneragala, Ampara, Hambantota, Gampaha, Colombo, Kalutara and Galle districts, the Department said. The Department of Social Services has allocated Rs.440 million to provide drought relief for five drought affected districts. The Department has released Rs. Rs.16 million to provide tube wells, water bowsers, deep wells for Anuradhapura, Badulla, Batticaloa, Gampaha, Hambantota, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Kurunegala, Mannar, Matale, Monaragala, Polonnaruwa, Puttalam and Trincomalee district. The Department has also made arrangements to distribute 637 water tanks among Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Hambantota, Ratnapura, Kurunegala, Monaragala, Ampara, Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa and Badulla districts. |
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