Global warming will lead to infrequent rainfall in India

New Delhi, Apr 5 (PTI) Major climatic changes due to
global warming would lead to disturbed rainfall patterns in
India, an eminent environmentalist said Sunday.

"The rise in global warming will lead to major changes
in rainfall patterns. In essence rainfall will decrease and
become more erratic, said R K Pachauri, chairman of
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

According to the noble laureate, global warming is
happening at a very steep rate and its implication for South
Asian continent means serious water problems for farmers.

"A large number of farmers in the continent are
dependent on rainfall," he said, while speaking at a memorial
lecture organised by Babu Jagjivan Ram Foundation on Climate
Change here.

"India will experience heavy rains in a very short
time similar to 2005 Mumbai floods which left a million people
homeless," Pachauri said, warning that the frequency of such
flash floods will increase with time.

He cautioned that India will have to face water crisis
as shrinking glaciers will lead to reduction in the flow of
rivers, which would ultimately result in lower ground water
levels.

"We should learn to manage our water systems more
effectively. Water is the reason civilisation flourished in
here," said Pachauri.