Delhi: The government on Wednesday said that monsoon was expected to hit Kerala by May-end or early June.
However, Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan added that a formal forecast may be issued by May 15.
"Climatologically, monsoon is expected to reach south Kerala either by the end of May or early days of June, forecast for which will be issued on May 15," Vardhan told Lok Sabha during question hour, as per IANS.
He added that during the current year (2016), normal or above normal rainfall has been predicted by many forecasting agencies, including the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Meanwhile, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das said yesterday that Indian economy may clock near 8 percent growth in 2016-17 on the back of a good monsoon.
"If we get a good monsoon, which we hope we will according to all forecast, I think economy should clock closer to 8 percent," he had said, as per PTI.
(With Agency inputs)
