Heavy rainfall across Saurashtra and the south Gujarat region has increased water levels in different dams in the state. At present, the amount of water stored in the 203 dams across the state stands at 34.41% of total capacity.
The water in these dams was at 28.60% on July 11 and at 27.59% on July 4, the sizable 6% increase occurring in the last seven days. Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River also recorded fresh inflow of water in the reservoir which now holds 40% of its total capacity of 9,464 million cubic meters. The water level in the dam has reached 112 feet.
A total of nine dams are now filled to 100% capacity, 22 dams filled to 70-100% capacity, 28 dams filled to 50-70%, 43 dams filled to 25-50% and 101 dams have less than 25% water of the total capacity.
The revenue minister Kaushik Patel, addressing a press conference, said: "An average 44% rainfall of the current monsoon season has been recorded across the state and it's more in Saurashtra and south Gujarat regions. The administration has declared 13 reservoirs on high alert after continuous inflow of water. Many rivers have been swelling and therefore, a common alert has been issued for five reservoirs while 12 reservoirs are under caution."
Some small dams in Saurashtra such as Panna, Fuljhar, Und-III, Und-IV, Sangavdi, Balambhadi and Sorthi, among others, have started overflowing.
Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said, "The fresh inflow of water has improved the chances of irrigation for areas where less rainfall has been recorded. Most parts of north Gujarat, central Gujarat and Surendranagar district have not received sufficient rainfall yet and therefore, the farmers will receive water through irrigation in two days."
