Rains continue to elude Gujarat; only 41.66 % water stock left

Gujarat, which is reeling under dry spell, has witnessed only 32.58 mm rainfall so far, which is just 4.09 per cent of the seasonal average, with as many as 93 talukas still completely deprived of rains.
The lack of rains has left just 41.66 per cent water stock in the reservoirs across the state, while many water bodies in the scarcity-hit Kutch and Saurashtra regions have already dried up.
As per the figures provided by the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA), till July 11, 2013, the state had received 310.31 mm rainfall, while this year it was only 32.58 mm, which is 89.5 per cent less than the previous year.

According to the Narmada Water Resources Water Supply (NWRWS) and Kalpsar Department, there is only 41.66 per cent water stock left in the dams, including the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) as on July 11.
Of more than 200 dams in the state, not a single dam is filled completely.
As much as 1,64,732.11 million cubic feet (mcf) at 29.62 per cent water stock is left with 202 water-schemes in state, apart from the Narmada river dams which are filled with 1,85,963.14 mcf which translates into 77.69 per cent storage.

Kutch and Saurashtra regions in the state seem to be affected most due to the delayed monsoon as the reservoirs in the regions are depleting, it said.

According to the state government, Kutch region is facing severe water scarcity with just 693.59 mcf (5.92 per cent) water in 20 dams, which is 533.61 mcf less as compared to the corresponding period last year. In the 137 dams of Saurashtra, 1,31,10.60 mcf (14.78 per cent) water is left which is 2,169.40 mcf less than 2013.
Godhatad, Rudramata and Mitti dams of Kutch are empty, while water have not been fetched from Veri, Lalpari, Ozat and Kalabhar dams of Saurashtra seeing the less storage. Water storage in Aaji, Und, Sorthi, Bhadar and Rozki dams of Saurashtra will be dried up in the next one month.

Out of 202 natural and artificial water-bodies in the state, 160 water-bodies, mostly from Kutch and Saurashtra regions, have received less than 25 mm rainfall.
However, stating that this year's situation is similar to what it was in 2012, the Gujarat government said it was ready to tackle the situation.