PANAJI
October is supposed to bring relief from the monsoon’s humidity. In Goa, it has become a test of endurance as temperatures are touching 35°C, the air remains heavy with humidity, and the dry spell is sharpening concerns over water availability.
Yet, the more concerning question is whether the State did enough to prepare for the shortfall in rainfall.
The maximum temperature touched 35°C on Friday and stood at 34.8°C on Saturday, between 3.3 and 3.5 degrees above normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Minimum temperatures of 25.4°C and 26°C on the two respective days offered little relief, remaining above normal as well.
Dr Ramesh Kumar, a retired scientist from the National Institute of Oceanography, said that heat is only part of the problem while describing the prevailing conditions as among the worst drought-like situations in Goa in three to four decades.
“October is the cruelest month,” Kumar said, speaking to The Goan, pointing to the oppressive combination of heat and humidity.
He stated the possibility of a rainfall deficit was flagged in May, leaving time to clean ponds, restore wells and rejuvenate traditional water sources. But, in his assessment, the State continued to treat the monsoon as ‘business as usual’ instead of preparing for a shortfall.
“We are not learning from past mistakes,” he said, calling for water conservation to begin before shortages become a crisis.
The warning comes after India recorded 759.4 mm of monsoon rainfall between June and September, against a long-term average of 868.6 mm -- a deficit of 12.6 percent, while Goa faced a deficit of over 32 percent.
It was the country’s driest monsoon in 11 years and the fourth driest this century.
The IMD has forecast that hot and humid conditions will persist across Goa over the next week, with heat cramps and heat rash likely during peak daytime hours.
People have been advised to avoid outdoor activities between 11 am and 3 pm, when heat exposure is expected to be most intense.
