Aizawl, Sep 22 (UNI) Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted, the Southwest monsoon will retract from Northeast by October second week.

However, IMD has ruled out the possibility of moderate to heavy rainfall across the region during these days.

IMD Regional Deputy Director D Chakraborty told UNI that '' there is a probability of light showers in Mizoram, South Assam and Tripura during the last week of September, while rest part of the region including North Bengal will have a clear sky''.

He said except Mizoram all other NE states have received deficit rainfall this year ranging from -49 per cent to -17 per cent.

Mizoram had received about 18 per cent excess rainfall in comparison with normal annual rainfall this year.

Mr Chakraborty had stressed upon rainwater harvesting and preservation of water sources in the region.

Disclosing latest statistics of southwest monsoon he informed that NE region as a whole has received about six per cent less rainfall this year and individually Tripura received (-)17 per cent, Arunachal (-)30 per cent, Asom (-)38 per cent, Meghalaya (-)42 per cent, Manipur (-)46 per cent and Nagaland (-)49 per cent rain till date.

IMD statistics stated that the states witnessed deficient rainfall several times in last 21 years and only in 1988, 1993, 1997 and 2003 Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland had received average 17 per cent, 9 per cent, 2 per cent and 3 per cent excess rainfall respectively.

Explaining the situation Mr Chakraborty termed it as 'Inter-annual Variability of monsoon' which occurs due to random discrepancy of rainfall every year.

UNI BB-SNR PP AB 1052