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The upper lake in Bhopal, measuring 32 sq kms, is one of the biggest in the country.
However, the delay in the monsoon for the third successive year has reduced it to one-third its original size making it a metaphor of the outlook of the people of Madhya Pradesh.
With all 45 districts in the state receiving inadequate rains between June and now, between 46 per cent to 86 per cent below normal, farmers in the state have given up all hope of saving the soya crop.
The monsoon normally hits the state by the second week of June. But the state has received little or no rain after the first showers.
"The south-west monsoon, which brings the maximum rains to the state, has bypassed us completely," says weatherman K S Gulati who hopes that there will be some rains after July 22.
Bhopal normally receives 30 cm of rainfall by this time, but it has received only around 12 cm this year. This is considered more harmful than no rain at all.
"We began sowing during the first showers. But the 17-day dry spell that followed resulted in the death of the seeds that had sprouted," said Jogeshwar Pandey from nearby Obaidullaganj town.
An advise had been issued to farmers in the beginning of July to delay sowing, but by then the paddy croppers had already finished with it.
Nothing has been said so far about drinking water, but some regions are expected to encounter a shortage in the course of the year.
The Malwa region is facing its fifth consecutive rainfall deficient year. However, the signs were deceptive with the initial bursts over Khandwa and Betul regions actually sweeping away at least 16 small check dams.
This was also a major blow as a huge effort had been directed towards water conservation efforts and building small check dams.
Along with the water flowing downstream disappeared the hopes of farmers and citizens in the region.
The loss in the initial period of the monsoons is being estimated at between 50 to 60 per cent of the total grain output in the state.
Any rainfall in the future may at best alleviate the drinking water problem and benefit the winter crop, but there is little hope for the current crop.
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