Patna,(BiharTimes): Though Bihar is yet to be declared drought hit the state has witnessed 26 per cent less rainfall this monsoon.

The overall rainfall deficiency in the state has come down from 32 per cent in June to 23 per cent in July. But the shortfall for Patna has increased from 16 per cent to 48 per cent in the same period.

From June 1 to July 31, the state has received 377mm of rain, against the average of 502mm, resulting in a deficit of 26 per cent. July began on a positive note and good amount of rain was recorded at many places in the state in the first half of the month. But the second half witnessed much less rainfall.

The shadow of drought now looms large over the state as meteorological drought is declared in a state when the precipitation deficiency is 30 per cent or above.

According to Indian Meteorological Department, Patna, director A K Sen, the rain deficit in the state is around 26 per cent and there is no possibility of rain till August 4.

The cumulative rainfall deficiency of 23 per cent till July end this year is less than the previous year but slightly more than 2012. The cumulative rainfall deficiency in end-July in 2013 stood at 29 per cent. The shortfall stood at 22 per cent in 2012.

The state received 262mm rainfall in the past 31 days against the normal precipitation of 343mm, leaving a deficiency of 21 per cent. Patna, on the other hand, received 179mm rainfall in July––fourth lowest for the decade.

There was no pre-monsoon shower this year and the rain started only after the onset of south-west monsoon in the state on July 18.

The deficient rainfall in July has been attributed to the unfavourable position of the monsoon trough line.

Two strong weather systems had developed in the Bay of Bengal last week, but they failed to bring any rain to Bihar as they moved over to Jharkhand after crossing Odisha and Chhattisgarh. If it does not rain by the first week of August, the state will definitely face drought.

As against the target of paddy cultivation in 34 lakh hectares in the state, sowing has been done only in 14.22 lakh hectares so far. In 16

districts, paddy cultivation has been done in over 50% of the target area. In rest of the districts, it is below 40%.

The worst-hit districts are Arwal, Banka, Buxar, Patna, Rohtas, Saharsa, Gopalganj, West Champaran, East Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Saran, Sitamarhi, Bhojpur, Vaishali and Madhepura.

Responding to the situation the state government has announced payment of diesel subsidy at the rate of Rs 250 per acre to farmers in most of the districts.

Principal secretary, agriculture, A L Meena, said the situation would be reviewed after eight days and if the rain figure does not improve, drought will be announced.