Gujarat Dams Face Severe Water Deficit

Ahmedabad: The state of Gujarat is grappling with a significant water shortage in its dams, accentuated by a 7% deficit in rainfall compared to the previous year. As of July 18, the cumulative water levels in 207 dams, including the critical Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam, are 2,752 million cubic metres (MCM) lower than the same period last year. This stark shortfall raises serious concerns about water availability in the coming months.

An analysis of the regional data reveals that central Gujarat is the only area with a slight improvement, boasting an additional 33 MCM of water compared to last year. Conversely, the situation in other regions is markedly worse. The 141 dams in Saurashtra have seen a reduction of 788 MCM, while the 15 dams in north Gujarat are short by 665 MCM. The scenario in Kutch is particularly alarming, with its 20 dams operating at merely 23% of their total capacity.

Despite these challenges, officials noted a modest increase in the water level of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam due to an inflow of 45,376 cusecs, translating to an addition of 45 MCM. Nonetheless, the overall storage in this dam stands at approximately 54%, which is insufficient to alleviate the broader regional deficits. The most pronounced decline in water storage has been observed in the Saurashtra region, which underscores the critical nature of the shortage. Out of the 206 dams (excluding Sardar Sarovar), only four have storage levels above 90%. Among these, Wagadiya in Jamnagar, Vansal in Surendranagar, and Sasoi-II in Lalpur are on high alert, while Wanakbori in Balasinor is near full capacity at 98%.

Furthermore, eight dams are currently holding between 80% and 90% of their capacity, and seven others are between 70% and 80%. However, a staggering 188 dams are operating below 70% capacity. In Kutch, the situation remains dire, with only one dam holding between 80% and 90%, and three dams between 70% and 80%. The remaining dams in the state are facing critically low levels, with 49 of them containing less than 10% of their total storage capacity, and another 31 holding between 10% and 20%.

This widespread water scarcity underscores the urgent need for comprehensive water management strategies and contingency plans to mitigate the impact on agriculture, industry, and daily life. The government and relevant authorities must prioritise measures to address this burgeoning crisis, ensuring sustainable water usage and enhancing storage capabilities to weather such deficits in the future.