Jaipur, Aug. 20 -- Rajasthan is heading towards the final stretch of the southwest monsoon with a significant rainfall deficit, as 14 districts remain rain-deficient and over 200 dams are still completely dry. The monsoon typically begins to wind down around mid-September. According to data released by the water resources department, Rajasthan received 277.54 mm of rainfall between June 1 and August 17 against the normal 424.71 mm for the period, a shortfall of around 35%. The situation is in sharp contrast to last year, when almost all districts had recorded above-normal rainfall by this time. Between June 1 and August 17, 14 districts recorded deficient rainfall. Rajasthan's dams have a combined storage capacity of 13,029.090 million cubic metres, of which 5,792.479 M.cum, or 44.46%, is filled. Of 693 dams, 208 are completely empty, 446 are partially filled and 39 full. The below-normal rainfall has also affected kharif sowing. This year, kharif crops have been sown across 13.1 million hectares in Rajasthan, compared with 14.3 million hectares last year. The immediate prospects of widespread rainfall also remain limited. According to IMD, light to moderate rainfall is expected at some places in the Bharatpur, Kota and Jaipur divisions of eastern Rajasthan over the next four to five days. htc...