There’s a smile and sigh of relief writ large on every face — be it a farmer, citizen, or an administrator — in Rajasthan, courtesy bountiful rain.
After two years, heavy rainfall in the state has filled most of the dams to their capacity. Last year, Rajasthan witnessed low rainfall, triggering fears of drought this year. The downpour across the state, however, has given a huge respite to everyone. Rajasthan doesn’t have to worry about rains for the next two years.
Gates of Rana Pratap Sagar Dam, Rawatbhata, Bisalpur Dam, Tonk and Jawai Dam, Pali have been opened. Good rainfall in the catchment area of these dams has filled them to the brim. Bisalpur Dam, which provides water to Jaipur, Ajmer, and Tonk districts, is full as well. The water level has reached 315.38 RL/meter against the dam’s 315.50 RL/meter. The gates were opened on August 25.
Ravindra Katara, an executive officer in the Rajasthan Water Resource Department, pointed out, “More than 90 per cent of the dams in the state are full or overflowing. It is a good sign for the coming years. Due to low rainfall last year, we were in trouble and hoping for a good monsoon. Gates of Rana Pratap Sagar Dam, the biggest dam of Rajasthan, have been opened and the amount of water that is released from it can fill Bisalpur Dam three times.”
In Pali district, the Rajasthan government had started a water train due to drought-like situation in the area. The region was reeling under a severe water crisis and people were bathing just two times in 10 days but as the Jawai Dam is now full, people no longer feel high and dry.
There have even been discussions over raising the height of the dams as much water is wasted when they overflow. This has, however, not been implemented yet and work is at a planning stage.