Thiruvananthapuram: On hearing the word monsoon, the image that flashes many minds in Kerala would be getting drenched in school uniforms as children. Like an unsaid rule the south-west monsoon used to begin every year on June 1, most of the times the first day of school after summer vacations. Children and elders enjoy the rains alike.
This year the south-west monsoon has hit the Kerala coast slightly later than expected on June 6. The monsoon was weak in the beginning but the rain started gaining strength. According to the Met department, heavy rainfall and thundershower is expected in different parts of the state in the coming days. But on an average the rains in the state are less than normal. The Kozhikode district in Kerala has received the maximum amount of rainfall, that is 237 mm till June 11. But as of now it is 20 mm less as 295 mm was expected from Kozhikode and this is the situation in most places.
The rains are not intermittent with heavy spells with sunshine in between. But at times heavy rains continue for a couple of days.
The rains bring a big relief to the agriculture sector and the farmers as delayed rains can affect their crops. But in Kerala the rains just do not bring a smile on the farmers' faces or those directly dependant on the agriculture sector but everyone as the state depends a lot on hydro electricity. If the rains are less the state can be in the dark.
The monsoon tourism is also a thriving industry as many people opt to wander during the rains. The backwaters, beaches and the hill stations are all the more beautiful during the monsoon. Tourism Secretary Suman Billa said that during the monsoon season the state gets a good number of tourists from the Middle East and from the northern parts of the country as in the North the temperatures are very high at this time.
Suman Billa said that the state also gets a good number of youngsters as tourists, who like to make use of the discount rates provided in this season. These are mostly the romance seeking crowds. He said, "This time we are expecting more tourists compared to last year as for three months from June to August we have slashed taxes on accommodation of hotels from 12.5 per cent to 5 per cent. We have also started a new website 'Kerala dream deals', where a person can go to the site and write the names of the places he/she wishes to travel and the details will be sent to five accredited tour operators who will send the prospective customer five different options. The customer gets choices and also competitive prices."
The secretary added that so far going by the trend, they are expecting a great monsoon season. Kovalam, backwaters of Kumarakom, Munnar, Thekkadu and Wayanad are receiving highest number of tourists and enquiries.
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