Gujarat Faces Looming Water Crisis as Reservoir Levels Plummet

Gandhinagar / Ahmedabad, Gujarat : As Gujarat enters the peak of summer, an alarming drop in water levels across the state’s 207 reservoirs has sparked widespread concern among farmers and residents. Official figures reveal that just 56.50% of the total water storage remains—raising fears of an impending crisis for agriculture and drinking water in the coming weeks.

Particularly hard-hit is North Gujarat, where only 34.55% water is left in its 15 major reservoirs—the lowest level across all regions. Similar distress signals are emerging from Kutch (40.39%) and Saurashtra (42.44%), both critical agricultural belts.

“If this continues, we won’t have enough water even for one full irrigation cycle,” said Jignesh Patel, a farmer from Mehsana. “We’re already seeing cracks in the soil, and it’s only mid-April. The government must step in before this becomes a disaster.”

Meanwhile, Sardar Sarovar Dam, Gujarat’s largest and most crucial reservoir, is currently at 62.42% capacity—relatively better but still below ideal levels for summer sustainability.

“Water is vanishing faster than ever. Even the borewells are drying early this year,” said Ramesh Solanki, a cotton farmer from Surendranagar. “We depend on these reservoirs. If there’s no rain soon, we might lose our entire crop.”

The state’s industries, urban households, and agriculture are now all competing for the rapidly depleting resource. In Central Gujarat, 17 reservoirs are at 54.63% capacity, while South Gujarat’s 13 reservoirs hold 60.27% water—still relatively stable, but experts warn the situation could deteriorate if the heatwave continues.

District administrations are on high alert. Officials confirm that contingency plans are being drawn to manage drinking water and prioritize supply to critical areas. However, villagers claim rampant water mismanagement and lack of timely action.

“Every year, we face this situation, and every year it gets worse,” said Bhavna Rathod, a farmer’s wife from Patan. “Why hasn’t the government built new storage systems or regulated water use better?”

Deputy Secretary of the Water Resources Department, in a press release, said: “We are closely monitoring the water levels. Directions have been issued for rational use of reservoir water and to limit supply for non-essential industrial purposes.”

The next two months are expected to bring scorching heat across Gujarat, raising further concerns about rural livelihoods. If the state doesn’t receive early monsoon showers, experts warn that Gujarat could face one of its most severe water shortages in recent years.