Govt cuts 2014 monsoon forecast, says no evidence of drought

The government has lowered its forecast for June-September monsoon rainfall to 87 per cent of long-period average from 93 per cent earlier due to a slow start to the season.

Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday there was no scientific evidence of a drought this year and that the August-September monsoon rains were seen at 95 per cent of the long-period average.

An average monsoon for the August-September period is when India receives downpours of between 96 per cent and 104 per cent of a 50-year average of 43.5 centimetres, the weather office classification shows.

(Reuters)