Hope afloat amid weak monsoon forecast

Skymet gives hope, predicts normal monsoon
Giving hope amid the gloom, private weather forecasting agency Skymet has predicted normal rains after the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast deficient monsoon this year, raising the spectre of a drought. The agency has also downplayed the El-Nino factor, saying the chances of the phenomenon affecting rainfall were remote.

Govt announces roadmap to tackle drought demon
With the forecast of a poor monsoon casting a cloud over the country's economic outlook, the government has announced a roadmap to minimise the losses in the farm and power sectors and keep prices of food items such as pulses in check. Agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh said, "We have confidence and policies in place to ensure there is minimum damage to agriculture sector and the overall economy."

Maharashtra plans cloud seeding to combat monsoon blues
Worried by the revised monsoon forecast of lower than normal rainfall, the Maharashtra government has set in motion a contingency plan for cloud seeding to combat the looming water crisis in the state, an official said in Mumbai. The revenue, relief and rehabilitation ministry issued tenders last month inviting bids for cloud seeding operations in different parts of the state.