Lok Sabha Question No. 3788 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-18
Subject: Heavy Rainfall in Maharashtra
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Shri Omprakash Bhupalsinh Alias Pavan Rajenimbalkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3788

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 18 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## HEAVY RAINFALL IN MAHARASHTRA

## †3788. SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAVAN RAJENIMBALKAR:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  there  has  been  heavy  increase  in  rainfall  in Maharashtra during the last five years and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  study  regarding  the  incidence  of  heavy rainfall in the State in the next ten years;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government has conducted any study regarding the water holding capacity of soil in different areas of the said State and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  implemented  any  scheme  to  improve  the  water  holding capacity of soil in the State to reduce the incidence of landslides; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) The incidents of heavy, very heavy, and extremely heavy rainfall events in Maharashtra during the last five years are given in Annexure-1. Among the previous five years, the highest incidents were observed in 2019 and the second highest in 2024.
- (b)-(c)  Studies  have  reported  significant  rising  trends  in  the  frequency  and  the  magnitude  of extreme rainfall  across  India,  including  Maharashtra,  due  to  climate  change.  Changing monsoon patterns and occurrences of extremes have affected various parts of the country. Regions that are more prone to such events in the changing climate include central India, northern Indian regions, and Western Himalayas (extreme precipitation), as well as north and northwest India and neighboring central India and coastal States.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has assessed the changing rainfall pattern in the country and its extremes in the recent 30 years in different States and districts. The reports are available to the public at  https://www.imdpune.gov.in/reports.php/. There is an increasing trend of heavy rainfall events in a few districts of Maharashtra.

- (d) No.
- (e) No.
- (f) Does not arise.

Annexure-1

| Years   | June   | June   | June   | July   | July   | July   | August   | August   | August   | September   | September   | September   | SWMonsoon Season   | SWMonsoon Season   | SWMonsoon Season   |
|---------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|----------|----------|----------|-------------|-------------|-------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
| Years   | HR     | VHR    | EHR    | HR     | VHR    | EHR    | HR       | VHR      | EHR      | HR          | VHR         | EHR         | HR                 | VHR                | EHR                |
| 2019    | 133    | 70     | 16     | 579    | 191    | 30     | 348      | 167      | 54       | 300         | 82          | 10          | 1360               | 510                | 110                |
| 2020    | 154    | 31     | 0      | 253    | 55     | 2      | 414      | 138      | 22       | 82          | 19          | 3           | 903                | 243                | 27                 |
| 2021    | 242    | 76     | 11     | 412    | 239    | 62     | 70       | 2        | 1        | 306         | 63          | 5           | 1030               | 380                | 79                 |
| 2022    | 91     | 14     | 1      | 604    | 236    | 20     | 296      | 80       | 7        | 181         | 33          | 0           | 1172               | 363                | 28                 |
| 2023    | 185    | 38     | 0      | 648    | 229    | 24     | 58       | 5        | 0        | 123         | 27          | 1           | 1014               | 299                | 25                 |
| 2024    | 194    | 32     | 3      | 670    | 281    | 50     | 240      | 71       | 5        | 193         | 48          | 8           | 1297               | 432                | 66                 |

Heavy Rainfall (HR): 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm; Very Heavy Rainfall (VHR): 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm; Extremely heavy rainfall (EHR): >204.4 mm

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