ORIGIN, INCIDENCE AND IMPACT OF DROUGHTS OVER INDIA AND REMEDIAL MEASURES FOR THEIR MITIGATION

The paper highlights the factors which tend to reduce the Indian monso on rainfall substantially. These are: Eurasian snow accumulation durin g December-March, El Nino with warming phase of the eastern equatorial Pacific [0-10-degrees-S, 80-degrees-W-180-degrees-W], long periods of 'break' in the monsoon and poor westward penetration of monsoon low-p ressure systems. Utilising the joint criteria based on specified thres hold values of the percentage departure from normal for area-averaged Indian monsoon rainfall and of the percentage Indian area under defici ent monsoon rainfall, the years of all-India drought have been identif ied. Enhancing these criteria suitably, years of severe and phenomenal droughts have also been identified. India experienced 18 droughts dur ing 1871-1990, of which 10 were severe and 5 were phenomenal. While th e periods 1901-20 and 1961-80 had the highest frequency of drought, 19 21-40 had no drought at all. Most of the severe, and all the phenomena l droughts, occurred in the El-Nino-cum-warming phase which, therefore , needs to be carefully monitored. The remedial measures which can be actively pursued are effecting improvements in agriculture and in rura l economy, according high priority to population control, initiating s uitable insurance schemes, generating confidence amongst the affected people and making adequate financial provision to render relief effect ively and quickly to drought-hit communities.