More storage of this valuable resource, water, in reservoirs could have been possible with good monsoon showers as at present, had the number of projects been more in crucial areas and the storing capacities of the existing projects could have been enhanced.

The total live storage in 63 important reservoirs in different parts of the country monitored in July 3 was 27.90 TM Cum (22 per cent of FRL) as against 22.97 TM Cum (18 per cent of FRL) during the corresponding date of the previous year. The total live storage in these reservoirs on July 3 was alsohigher than the last ten year's average which is 26.12 TM Cum (21 per cent of FRL).

The current year's storage is nearly 22 per cent of the designed utilisable storage, 121 per cent of the previous year's storage and 107 per cent of the average of the last ten years. However, there is no project having storage capacity of more than 80 per cent. Three projects have live storage capacity varying between 50 and 80 per cent and 14 projects have storage capacity of more than 30 per cent and up to 50 per cent. The remaining 46 projects have storage capacity up to 30 per cent only.

WEATHER FORECAST & REVIEW

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) heavy rainfall is expected in Madhya Pradesh, entire west coast including coastal Karnataka, south and west interior Karnataka, parts of Orissa, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and other parts of northwest India. Normal rainfall is expected over the remaining regions of the country.

During the period June 1 to July 8, 28 out of 35 meteorologicalsub-divisions and 71 per cent districts of the country received normal to excess rainfall. Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Gangetic West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar plateau, Bihar plains, east Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry received deficient rainfall in the period. No region of the country received either scanty or nil rainfall in this period.

During the week ending July 8, deficient rains occurred only in Bihar plateau, Bihar plains, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. Scanty rainfall occurred only in Marathawada region and no region of the country received nil rainfall in the week.

Damages: According to the natural disaster management division of the Union agriculture ministry, the 1335 people and 64106 animals lost their live due to different natural calamities like heavy rains, landslide, flood and cyclone which occurred in 8 states. About 58.36 lakh people were affected in 4946 villages of 55 districts. In Gujarat alone 46.80 lakh people in 2938 villages were affected by cyclone. In Assam 11.56lakh of people in 2.59 lakh hectre area and in 1773 villages were affected due to floods. In Maharashtra 235 villages were affected due to heavy rains. The total damages done to houses in 8 states are of the order of 277707.

The central team which visited Gujarat in response to the memorandum received from state government for additional assistance from the National Fund for Calamity Relief has submitted its report. This report will be considered by the inter-ministerial group in July 14. It will also be considered by the National Calamity Relief Committee soon.

A central team is also scheduled to visit Sikkim from July 13 to 16 to assess the damage caused by heavy rains and landslides during June 1998. The team after assessing the damage will look into the requirement of funds to the state.

In Assam, the Army has been assisting civil authorities in rescue operations in some parts of Nalbari districts inundated by floods caused in river Buradia. In Dhemajia district though water level of all rivers areslightly receding, flood situation in the district still remains grave. Roads and rail communications are still disrupted. In North Lakshmipur district, flood situation remained unchanged. In Tinsukhia and Jorhat districts, water level of river Brahmaputra is increasing. In Majueia sub-division of Jorhat district, water level of Brahmaputra is rising and flowing above the danger level. The state government is operating 60 relief camps in affected areas.