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Gujarat used 10% of its stored water in the last month

Only three reservoirs of the 206 in the state (barring Sardar Sarovar) are more than 70% full

Gujarat used 10% of its stored water in the last month
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In the last month, Gujarat used 1,400 million cubic metres (MCM) of water, which represents a tenth of its water reserves as of April 22.

Only three reservoirs of the 206 in the state (barring Sardar Sarovar) are more than 70% full.

Of the 203 remaining dams, 75 have less than 10% of their capacity. Sardar Sarovar has 4,878 MCM of water, with a 172 MCM reduction in the last one month.

Water supply officials, however, say the situation is somewhat better than last year, as the state's 206 dams cumulatively have 91 MCM more water stored this year.

They are keeping their fingers crossed, as any delay in the monsoon could cause a water crisis, leaving the state completely dependent on Narmada water.

Comparing storage level in the Sardar Sarovar to that of last year, it emerges that the Narmada dam has 773.72 MCM less water this year.

As of May 18, the Sardar Sarovar had 4,878 MCM of water against 5,651.72 MCM on the same date last year.

The water storage data show that the 13 dams in South Gujarat saw storage levels decline by 818 MCM. The reduction was 214 MCM for the 141 dams of Saurashtra.

Officials said that of the 206 dams in the state barring the Narmada dam, Aji-II has the highest storage level, 99.73% of its capacity of 20.76 MCM.

Officials said it is almost full because it has been periodically replenished with Narmada water.

Two dams have storage levels between 70% and 89%. These are Dholidhaja (Surendranagar) and Wanakbori (Mahisagar).

Of the remaining 203 dams, 44 have between 30% and 49%, while 17 have between 50% and 69%. Seventy-five dams have less than 10% of their capacity and 19 of these are dry, with less than 1% storage.

Looking at the regional break-up of water storage, in the week ending on May 18 the maximum water was released from dams in South Gujarat, 23.1 MCM.

It was followed by Saurashtra (7.25 MCM), Central Gujarat (5.5 MCM), North Gujarat (1.15 MCM) and Kutch (1.73 MCM)

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