Deficient rainfall in Gujarat; water supply for irrigation likely to be curtailed

At a time, when parts of North and East India faces flooding, in the Western part of the country, Gujarat stares at deficient rainfall this season.

Expressing the gravity of the situation, Deputy Chief Minister of the State, Nitin Patel, stated that water supply for irrigation may be curtailed in case of a further delay in rains.

Speaking to BusinessLine , Patel said, "The situation has remained worse in many parts of the State. Barring Saurashtra and South Gujarat, where it rained fairly good, there is deficient rainfall in North Gujarat and Kutch. We have stopped irrigation water from certain dams, where the water level is far low."

As per the State Government data, out of the 203 dams in the State, 114 dams have a water storage level less than 40 per cent of its gross storage capacity. The storage level has depleted to 25 per cent or less in 85 dams as on August 6, 2018. The Sardar Sarovar Dam on Narmada river has only 37 per cent water of its gross storage, which has triggered a wave of concern.

"The upper catchment areas of Sardar Sarovar Dam have received less rains, hence there is low inflow of water. We hope that it rains adequately in a couple of days or else we are in for a critical time," Patel added.

So far the State has received 453.80 mm rainfall, which is about 45 per cent deficit from the normal of 831 mm. For the North Gujarat region, the rainfall deficit is about 72 per cent, and in Kutch region the deficit is 89 per cent till date as on August 6.

Highest rainfall is witnessed in the district of Gir Somnath with 131 per cent of normal and Navsari with 91 per cent, while lowest is in the districts of Kutch with 11 per cent and Surendranagar with 20 per cent of the normal rainfall so far.

North Gujarat and Kutch regions are the key growing regions for cotton, groundnut, paddy, castor and millet besides some of guar and vegetables.

North Gujarat has been the castor heartland but this year sowing progress has been dull with only 15,200 hectares bring brought under the crop in the region, as against 48,500 hectares around same time last year.