Water rationing in Maharashtra, Gujarat dams not full: El Nino begins to pinch India

Maharashtra has ordered a 10 per cent water cut as weak monsoon rains strain reservoir stocks. Uneven dam levels in Gujarat and drought relief demands from Karnataka underline wider water stress.

In Short

• Maharashtra will impose a 10 per cent water cut from October 16
• Drinking water gets top priority, with an extra emergency buffer in dams
• Irrigation releases will follow livestock and fodder needs, with Rabi prioritised

India’s monsoon has ended, and the impact of rain shortage is only beginning to show up in the country’s water reservoirs.

In Maharashtra, the government has announced a minimum 10 per cent water cut across urban and rural areas from October 16, citing deficient monsoon rainfall and the growing risk of a drought-like situation.

At the same time, dam storage remains uneven across neighbouring Gujarat, while Karnataka has sought thousands of crores in drought relief as farmers and communities face water stress.

The developments offer an early warning of how a weaker and uneven monsoon can translate into a water crisis months after the rains have disappeared, with the developing El Nio adding another layer of uncertainty.

Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan said the government had carried out dam-wise and sector-wise planning of available water stocks up to August 31, 2027, taking into account the impact of El Nio and the possibility of drought-like conditions.

“Drinking water will be given the highest priority,” Mahajan said, directing municipal corporations, municipalities and gram panchayats to implement the 10 per cent cut.

The state will also maintain an additional 10 per cent emergency water buffer in every dam. Water for drinking purposes will be reserved until August 2027 after accounting for evaporation, silt and unauthorised extraction.

Irrigation releases will be considered only after drinking water, livestock and fodder requirements are met.

The government has also asked local authorities to reduce losses by launching special drives against water leakage and operating sewage treatment plants at full capacity. Treated wastewater will be diverted for gardening, construction and washing.

Industries have been asked to reuse or recycle at least 30 per cent of the water they consume.

The pressure is not limited to Maharashtra.

In Karnataka, Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has sought Rs 7,142.64 crore in drought relief from the Centre. Of the state's 240 taluks, 217 have been identified as drought-affected, with 177 officially declared drought-hit.

Gujarat presents a more complicated picture. State Emergency Operations Centre data showed that 109 of the state's 206 dams were below 50 per cent capacity by September end.

Another 28 dams were between 50 and 70 per cent full, while 37 had between 70 and 100 per cent storage. Thirty-two dams were completely full.

Yet Gujarat's largest reservoir, the Sardar Sarovar Dam, reached its full reservoir level of 138.68 metres for the seventh time since its inauguration in 2017.

That contrast is important. A few full reservoirs do not necessarily mean the entire state has abundant water. Storage can vary dramatically between river basins and regions.

For farmers, the consequences could become more serious as the country moves into the Rabi season. Maharashtra has prioritised Rabi foodgrains and fodder for available irrigation water, followed by other Rabi crops. Perennial crops will receive water only if supplies permit.

The emerging picture shows why El Nio is more than a Pacific Ocean phenomenon. By altering atmospheric circulation and weakening or disrupting rainfall patterns, it can influence India's monsoon.

But El Nio is not the only factor controlling Indian rainfall; ocean temperatures, monsoon circulation, local weather systems and regional variability also matter.

The real test will come in the months ahead. The monsoon may be over, but the water story it leaves behind is only beginning.

- Ends