Five percent rainfall deficit recorded in June

Monsoon shows a deficit of five percent in June

The rainfall shows a deficit of five percent in the month of June for the whole country. While the north-west India recorded 'large excesses', Saurashtra, Kutch and east Uttar Pradesh are among the rain deficient areas. Excess of rainfall has been experienced in Konkan and Goa, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Marathawada, south interior Karnataka, west Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh. The rain was normal mainly across the South Peninsula and Central India. 

Climate change greatest threat to Indian economy: World Bank

According to the World Bank report titled South Asia's Hotspots: The Impact of Temperature and Precipitation Changes on Living Standards, the change in temperature and precipitation pattern from climate change could cost India 2.8 percent of GDP and depress the living standards of nearly half of the country's population by 2050. The decline in the living standards of the population can be attributed to a fall in agricultural yield and the health impact from it. The report also mentions that the regions most vulnerable to climate change are the central, northern and north-western India. 

Heavy rains trigger floods in J&K, Assam

Intermittent rains caused floods in Jammu and Kashmir last week. The flash floods washed away a bund and several equipment of the 48 MW hydel project at Lower Kalnai river, causing a major setback to the construction of the project. Although the water level in Jhelum river has receded well below the danger mark in Kashmir, the flood situation continues to remain grim in the state of Assam, affecting over 63,000 people across five districts.

Hyderabad launches sewer-cleaning machines

With an aim to reduce manual waste cleaning, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board has launched a jetting and suction machine. The sewer-cleaning machine is one of the many technologically-advanced equipment which the board has introduced. After a smooth trial, the board is set to procure 70 such machines. 

Effluents have killed 93 percent freshwater fish species in Pune rivers 

According to S.S. Kharat, ichthyologist and the principal of Modern College, high pollution levels in river bodies have resulted in a decline of 93 percent in native fish population in the Mula-Mutha river over the past two decades. Moreover, prominent fish species in Pune rivers like Singhara, Kachaki, Chilapi and Punties, are nearing extinction. A major cause of the reduction of fish species is untreated effluents followed by channelisation of rivers which has disturbed the natural habitat of water bodies.

This is a roundup of important news published between June 26 and July 2, 2018. Also, read policy matters this week.