Shimla: Controversy over the shelf life of Himalayan glaciers apart, farmers, municipal authorities and small hydropower generation concerns in the region are deeply worried as deficient snowfall for the second consecutive winter slowly begins to seep in.
Even as meteorological director for Himachal, Manmohan Singh forecast rain and snow over the next two days, he pointed out that there was a precipitation deficiency of 80 percent in the current winter season.
Winter rains and snow are dependent upon western disturbances and one or two good falls should be able to make up much of the deficiency. But so far western disturbances have failed to have any impact in this part of the country, he said.
Less snow over the winter means water shortages in the summer,†says Mukesh Hira, municipal engineer of Shimla who overlooks the daily water supply for the city.
The entire water supply system of the city relies on streams that feed on seasonal snow through the summer before the monsoon recharges supplies, he said.
Less precipitation over the past two months has reduced hydropower generation in plants put up on seasonal streams drastically. A 120 MW capacity power plant on Bhava stream generating as low as 20 MW; a 22.5 MW plant on Ghanvi stream was generating 2.5 MW and a 2.5 MW plant of Nogli stream was producing only 500 KW of power.
A mini hydropower plant operator in Kullu valley disclosed on conditions of anonymity, “due to less snow and rain in 2009, we recorded low generation in our plant.â€
Senior scientist RK Sud, with the state council for science technology and environment who monitors snow hydrology closely says, “generation in power plants dependent upon streams fed by seasonal snow could get impacted because of less snow during summer but generation in plants on perennial rivers will not be affected.â€
Farmers find themselves trapped in the changing weather cycle. “For a temperate plantation crop like apple, snow is essential,†says Kailash Thakur, an orchard owner in Theog. “Last winter’s deficient snow resulted in very low productivity and a repeat this winter could permanently scar the states fruit bowl. Many may have to look for alternative livelihoods,†he said.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
@ “Manmohan Singh forecast rain and snow over the next two days”……….
But the website of Meteorological department http://www.imd.gov.in/city_weather/station/shimla.htm just now indicates sunny days on Jan 2 and 3. Local media is perhaps expecting too much from Shimla MET office when the reality is somewhat different. Indian MET is very far from simulating weather phenomena. Their traditional predictions have become popular sayings, “rain or snow at one or two places”. Rest is expected from the explorers.
World across people are looking two main agencies for forecast. They are weather.com and accuweather.com. Even BBC, CNN, Yahoo etc. also use their information, which is quite close to reality. I do not understand why we hesitate to accept the current reality.