Wednesday, April 20 2005 18:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The South-West monsoon is expected to be normal this year, Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal today (Apr 20, 2005) said.

"We expect 98 per cent rainfall during the June-September monsoon period," he told reporters in New Delhi.

A firm prediction, however, will be done only in June because the other parameters needed are not available as early as April, he said.

Information from our system, the US and European metrological departments all suggest that there will be normal South-West monsoon this year, Sibal said.