Chennai: First spells of southwest monsoon over forest areas in Tamil Nadu in the past 40 days are not encouraging. Dry vegetation still prevails in reserve forests of Nilgiris, Sathyamangalam, Krishnagiri, Tirunelveli and Erode districts.
The rainfall during the same period is better in Karnataka with Kabini and Krishnaraja Sagar reservoirs receiving inflow. But there are no floods and release of water into Cauvery for TN is meagre, said forest sources in Hogenakkal.
Rainfall in Tirunelveli district and its catchments including Kalakad Mundanthurai and Courtallam have been inconsistent.
According to forest range offices, both Kodaikanal and Mudumalai wildlife sanctuaries have been receiving only intermittent rains in the last two weeks.
“The first week of June recorded good rainfall in catchment areas of lower Palani hills and open grasslands above Kodaikanal, but the rains have receded. In the case of Kodaikanal town, the drinking water shortage is now addressed, but smaller rivers are yet to start draining water into the lower Palani hills and adjacent Theni district,” said a forest ranger with the KodaikanalWildlife Division.
The acute drinking water shortage that struck Kodaikanal during March- April was due to the destruction of grasslands, the lifeline for perennial streams and we are hoping that the stray of Indian Gaur into Kodaikanal town will reduce if rains intensify, he added.
Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, which serves as the source for Vaigai river, is also awaiting rains. “We are told by the weather office that by the third week of July our region will be getting copious rains. At present there is no major water flow in Manalaru and Vaigai rivers”, said a forest department official in Megamalai.
“All the water holes and bird sanctuaries in Tirunelveli district are currently dry and the rains are yet to lash. The migration of birds has ended early this year in Koonthankulam and now we are waiting for September rains. By October, we are expecting the first spells of migratory birds and by monitoring them the north east monsoon can be predicted,” said renowned bird tracker Balpandi of Koonthankulam.
According to Indian Meteorological Department weather bulletin, monsoon rains are expected to cover the entire country by next week and also strengthen over South India and central India.
