Mumbai, Aug 18: The Raju Shetti-led Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana has lodged an FIR against the India Meteorological Department (IMD), accusing the weather body of "duping the farmers" in the state with a normal rain prediction.

The complaint was registered in Parbhani Rural police station by the outfit's Marathwada unit predict Manikrao Kadam. The FIR booked the IMD under section 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code.

Speaking to reporters, Kadam justified the group's demand for penal action against the state-owned weather body, saying the farmers of Maharashtra, particularly those in the Vidarbha and Marathwada region, have faced an unprecedented loss due to the "gross incorrect" prediction made by the IMD.

Since the onset of monsoon, Kadam said, the IMD has predicted that the monsoon will be normal. However, the rains are way below the average, he added, quipping, "We are left with no other option but to see our hard-earned investment on seeds go down the drain".

The period of monsoon between July and August is considered to be crucial growth phase. While Maharashtra received normal rainfall in June, a dry spell was witnessed since the third week of July.

The cumulative rainfall recorded in the state till the second week of August measures 607.4 mm. In the corresponding period last year, 723.7 mm of rainfall.

Despite the near-20 per cent deficit, a total of 13.14 lakh hectares of land has been sowed, which is the same as last year. Due to the dry spell, claims Kadam, the seeds sown in several regions will be wasted.

Out of the 355 talukas in Maharashtra, only 92 have received normal rainfall this year. According to the state agriculture commission, the downpour has been 10 to 50 per cent deficit in the remaining talukas.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 18, 2018 03:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).