The rainfall was so profuse this year that the people have grown wary of it; rather they have developed an aversion to rains. But ask the weatherman and who would say, with nonchalance, that it was the normal rainfall as was expected during an active monsoon. DC Gupta, Director-in-charge was no different. He took the quantity and frequency of rainfall in its stride and said told LoA that other than advancement by eight days, there was nothing abnormal in the rains.

"The Andaman Islands get the bulk of rainfall during the south-west monsoon' said Gupta. North-east monsoon brings rains to Nicobar district. He reeled out data to establish his claim and there was nothing amiss in it.

Total rainfall recorded till July 31 in 2008 was 2453.20 mm as against the normal annual rainfall of 3180 mm. technically speaking another 726.80 mm of rainfall and the Andaman Islands would have its normal quota of rains. As against this year's rains, last year the total rainfall was 2556 mm; deficient by 19.62%.

However, the Normal Rainfall was fixed in 1949 when the islands used to get between 180 and 200 days of rainfall. The rains have gradually reduced both in intensity and frequency. According to the data released by IMD itself, since 1985 only in six years the rainfall was in excess of the normal rainfall. In all the other years it was deficient and the deficiency varied from 2.60% to 26%; often in double digit. Relying on the past record, a time had come to revise and refix the normal rainfall. However, DC Gupta preferred not to comment upon it.

The administration banks on north-east monsoon to ensure drinking water supply to bulk of population in and around Port Blair for the simple reason that the limited storage capacity would not hold enough water to last nine months of a year till the next south-west monsoon. By December the water level in Dhanikhari Dam starts receding and by February situation becomes precarious in the absence of rains during north-east monsoon. Explaining the phenomenon DC Gupta explained that north-east monsoon was essentially a retreating monsoon that started mid-September and lasted till December every year. The retreating monsoon however benefited east coast of Tamil Nadu and Nicobar District rather than Andaman district. "What little rain we get during that period should be considered a bonus. It's not our right" he concluded.