Met Department forecasts near normal monsoon this season

NDTV Reports: The south-west monsoon that is crucial for agriculture is likely to be near normal this year, the India Meteorological Department has forecast amid hopes that good summer rains would lead to easing price situation.

''India Meteorological Department's long range forecast for the 2008 south-west monsoon season (June-September) is that the rainfall for the country as a whole is likely to be near normal,'' Earth Sciences Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters in Delhi.

Quantitatively, monsoon season rainfall is likely to be 99 per cent of the long period average with a model error of five per cent.

This is some real good news for India. he monsoons still play a huge role in our country's economy as agriculture depends mostly on the rains for water. Watched a report about this on NDTV last night. I'm glad i can stay in touch with all thenews about India through NDTV 24x7 which is available here in the US on DirecTV.