Rain Deficit Worries Gujarat; 33 Dams at Less Than 25% Capacity

Ahmedabad: With rainfall slowing down in recent days, farmers across Gujarat are growing concerned. According to data released by the State Emergency Operations Centre, the Sardar Sarovar Dam is currently at 75.28% of its storage capacity, while 33 dams in the state hold less than 25% of their capacity.

At present, 30 dams in Gujarat are completely full, and 73 dams are between 70% and 100% capacity. Another 35 dams have between 50% and 70% storage, while 35 more are between 25% and 50% full. The state has placed 51 dams on high alert, 27 on alert, and 25 under warning status.

So far this monsoon season, Gujarat has received an average of 64.48% of its expected rainfall. Region-wise distribution shows Kutch at 65.17%, North Gujarat at 66.21%, East-Central Gujarat at 66.62%, Saurashtra at 56.41%, and South Gujarat at 68.95%. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had advised fishermen not to venture into the sea until August 15. Meanwhile, 32 roads including 28 under the panchayat jurisdiction remain closed in the state.

A.K. Das, Director of the IMD’s Ahmedabad Centre, forecast that an upper-air cyclonic circulation is currently active and another weather system may develop over the Bay of Bengal. This could bring renewed heavy rainfall to Gujarat, particularly on August 15 and 16, with thunderstorms expected.

By 6 p.m. on Tuesday, rainfall had been recorded in 50 talukas across the state. Rajkot received the highest at 0.55 inches, followed by Kutiyana (0.35 inches), Sutrapada (0.35 inches), Lodhika (0.31 inches), Dhoraji (0.31 inches), Jamkandorana (0.28 inches), Kodinar (0.28 inches), Jetpur (0.24 inches), Visavadar (0.24 inches), and Bagasara (0.24 inches).