Even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted an early and heavy monsoon for Gujarat this year, the state has a higher water storage in its dams as compared to last year with South Gujarat and Saurashtra recording significantly high storage, thanks to the unseasonal rains already received by the regions.
Until May 23, Gujarat recorded a total storage of 47.95%, which is higher than 43.92% storage recorded on May 23, 2024. This makes for 12,108.6 Million Cubic Metres (MCM) out of the available 25,254 MCM capacity in the state.
Among the regions, South Gujarat and Saurashtra have seen a rise in storage as compared to last year. While 13 water schemes in South Gujarat recorded a storage of 47.21%, Saurashtra has already recorded a storage of 30.39%. Last year, South Gujarat had recorded 39.35% and Saurashtra recorded 17.20% storage on the same day.
Meanwhile, the water storage in Central Gujarat and North Gujarat is yet to see an exceptional rise with the current storage at 46.36% and 31%, respectively.
The Sardar Sarovar Dam in Narmada — known as the lifeline of Gujarat – has a storage of 57.92%, standing at 123.10 metres. The current available gross storage of Sardar Sarovar is 5,479 MCM, about 3% higher than the storage recorded at the same time last year.
SSNNL (Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd) officials said that to prepare for the possibility of early rainfall in the Narmada basin, the dam level is being maintained to mitigate flood risk by running a couple of turbines of the Riverbed Powerhouse (RBPH) as well as the Canal Head Powerhouse (CHPH) to generate hydro power and release water.
Out of the total storage, Sardar Sarovar currently has live storage of 35.57%. The other water schemes in the state have a total of 37.41% of live water storage.
