Gujarat News

Concerns over reduced rainfall during El Niño years had initially created anxiety within the Gujarat government at the beginning of the monsoon season. However, significant relief arrived by Sunday evening as the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam reached 76.33% of its total capacity. The water level in the dam—which has a full height of 138.68 meters—has now risen to 131.50 meters. This is only about 2 meters higher than the water level recorded on the exact same date during a normal year. This development brings substantial relief, as the dam supplies drinking water to 12 municipal corporations, 185 towns, and 10,843 villages, while also providing irrigation water for an estimated 12 lakh hectares of agricultural land. The Narmada Dam, which possesses a total gross storage capacity of 9,460 million cubic meters (MCM), currently holds 7,220.47 MCM of water. Out of this, the active or usable water storage stands at 3,566.33 MCM. An inflow of approximately 45,146 cusecs is being received into the reservoir from the Madhya Pradesh catchment area and the Omkareshwar Dam. Inflow rates fluctuated throughout the day, standing at 72,407 cusecs in the morning before averaging around 45,217 cusecs by the afternoon. To ensure the reservoir fills adequately and prevents water scarcity issues in the upcoming 2026–27 year, the canal head and riverbed powerhouses have been completely shut down. With power generation suspended, the release of water into the IBPTs, canals, and riverbed has been entirely stopped. .......