Bhubaneswar: Odisha has been experiencing scanty and erratic rain during the current monsoon across the state. While the extent of rainfall has improved in July and in the month of August till Monday it has been 52 per cent more than normal rainfall. Despite heavy downpour, eight districts fall short of normal rainfall registering deficiency from 19 to 50 per cent. Balasore tops the deficient list with -48.2 per cent rainfall from normal so far. Revenue department sources reveal from the onset of monsoon in the state in the month of June rainfall extent was below normal by 26.1 per cent. While the state has normal rainfall to the tune of 216.5mm, actual rainfall was 160.0 mm. Similarly, there was actual rainfall of 326.7 mm in July which was less than the normal 339.9 mm, thus registering deficiency of 26.1 per cent. In the month of August till 6th the state has recorded actual rainfall of 104.9 mm. This has exceeded normal rainfall of 68.9 mm during this period which is about 52 per cent more than normal, departmental sources say. Due to incessant rain in last few days, the water levels of most of rivers of the state are on the rise. Presiding over a high level meeting in the state, chief minister Naveen Patnaik today reviewed status of rainfall and water levels of different rivers at the State Secretariat here. Review revealed that since rain has stopped today in neighbouring Chhatishgarh and Jharkhand states, there is no apprehension of flood. Water level in Hirakud has been 611 feet and water has been released through different sluish gates. Patnaik directed to control the water of Hirakud reservoir as per rule curve. As regards Hati river flood in Kalahandi district, apprehending flood, the villagers of two of the five panchayats have been evacuated to safer places. Similarly, the people of Tumudibandha and Lankagada panchayats of Kandhamal district affected due to flood are being provided relief. The chief minister directed to increase the period of relief as per necessity. Revenue minister S N Patra, chief secretary B K Pattnaik and other senior officials attended the meeting. Sources add that cumulative rainfall in the state since the beginning of monsoon has been 591.6 mm which is about deficient of 5.4 per cent of the normal rainfall. Other than Balasore, Bhadrak has registered shortfall of 30.1 per cent and Deogarh of 35.4 per cent rainfall. Sources from the agriculture department reveal seven districts have experienced insufficient rain to the tune of 19 to 39 per cent. While Boudh district has recorded -19.8 per cent rainfall, Nuapada has 20.0 per cent, Mayurbhanj 23.0 per cent, Kendrapada 28.4 per cent, Bhadrak 35.3 per cent, Keonjhar 35.5 per cent, Deogarh has registered deficient rainfall of 36.6 per cent. According to department sources, rainfall shortage of Balasore district is 50.6 per cent as on 4 August. Regarding different kharif 2012 crops condition and coverage, sources from the agriculture department reveal while programme for paddy crop has been set at 40 lakh hectares, so far it has covered 22.23 ha. Last year, during this period, 24.55 ha were covered for paddy crop in the state. Total crops coverage has been targeted at 61.30 ha out of which 37.85 ha have been covered so far. Due to shortfall of rainfall, except the above mentioned eight districts, transplanting, sowing, weeding and application of fertilisers are in progress in most of the blocks of remaining 22 districts.