After a week of continuous rainfall, Gujarat’s dam storage levels have experienced a notable increase, reaching 52.42% of total capacity. The state’s Water Resources and Water Supply Department reported that this surge follows a period of substantial rain from July 22 to 31, with Saurashtra, Kutch, and south Gujarat seeing significant gains. Of the 206 major dams in the state, 48 are now fully filled, including a substantial number in Saurashtra and south Gujarat.
Gujarat has received 60.78% of its seasonal rainfall to date, with Kutch and Saurashtra recording particularly high figures. Kutch has experienced 410.10 mm of rainfall, equating to 84.57% of its expected annual total, while Saurashtra has received 553.85 mm, or 75.06% of its annual expectation. South Gujarat recorded 69.99% of its average rainfall, reaching 1044.30 mm, indicating a well-distributed monsoon across the region. In contrast, central and north Gujarat have lagged, with only 43.43% and 42.60% of their expected rainfall, respectively.
The water storage in Gujarat’s reservoirs has risen accordingly. Kutch saw the most significant increase, with storage capacity jumping from 29.15% on July 22 to 52.06% on July 31. This increase is attributed to the six fully filled dams out of the 20 in the region. Saurashtra’s water storage also improved, rising from 44.50% to 51.27%, while south Gujarat reached 58.15%, up nearly 17% within the same period. The Sardar Sarovar Dam, a critical water resource for the state, reported an inflow rate of 71,000 cusecs from Madhya Pradesh, bringing its water level to 121.6 meters, or 55.05% of its capacity. However, the dam’s current gross storage stands at 5207 million cubic meters (MCM), a deficit of 1712 MCM compared to the previous year.
North Gujarat’s dams showed minimal improvement, with storage levels increasing slightly from 26.54% to 27.76%. The region, comprising the districts of Aravalli, Banaskantha, Mehsana, and Sabarkantha, remains under a significant water deficit of approximately 810.71 MCM compared to last year’s data. Central Gujarat saw a modest rise in both overall and live storage, now holding 42.38% of its capacity, up from 35.43% on July 22. As the monsoon season progresses, Gujarat’s water management strategies focus on maintaining safe dam levels, especially in anticipation of potential heavy rainfall in the Narmada basin. The state’s authorities are vigilant, ensuring that the Riverbed Powerhouse (RBPH) and Canal Head Powerhouse (CHPH) operate efficiently to manage inflows and mitigate flood risks.
