3 min readVadodaraJun 29, 2026 09:44 PM IST
First published on: Jun 29, 2026 at 09:42 PM IST
With the onset of southwest monsoon delayed in several districts of Gujarat, the state’s 207 reservoirs held a combined gross storage of 11,875.08 MCM on Saturday – making 47.02 per cent of their total design capacity — with the Sardar Sarovar Narmada dam emerging as the lifeline for drinking and irrigation water with about 64% storage.
The Sardar Sarovar dam recorded a water level of 126.59 metres against its Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 138.68 metres, with a gross storage of 6140.31 MCM – 64.91 per cent of its design capacity of 9,460 MCM.
Critically, this is 1,496.55 MCM more than the storage recorded on the same day last year, providing the state a substantial cushion heading into the peak monsoon.
The dam recorded an average inflow of 7,554 cusecs on Saturday, with releases through the canal head powerhouse at 14,522 cusecs out of the combined flow downstream of 15,705.83 cusecs at the Garudeshwar head regulator.
Outside the Narmada dam, the regions depict a more mixed picture. The combined gross storage of all other 206 reservoirs stood at 5,734.77 MCM — making 36.30 per cent of their aggregate design capacity of 15,797.56 MCM.
South Gujarat’s 13 reservoirs, including the Ukai dam on the Tapi, have 2,968.37 MCM storage or 34.50 per cent of the capacity — a significant 853.35 MCM less compared to the same day last year.
Central Gujarat, with its 17 reservoirs at 52.02 per cent capacity holding 1221.12 MCM, recorded 31 MCM less storage compared to last year.
North Gujarat’s 15 reservoirs stood at 40.44 per cent, holding 781.62 MCM which is 76.72 MCM more than that on the same day last year.
Saurashtra’s 141 reservoirs stood at 26.20 per cent capacity, holding 678.11 MCM, recording a 649.92 MCM deficit compared to the same date in 2025. Kutch’s 20 reservoirs stand at 26.30 per cent, about 8.74 MCM below last year.
Of the total gross storage of 11,875.08 MCM across all 207 reservoirs, the live storage (water available for actual use) stood at 7,020.63 MCM, representing 34.49 per cent of the total design live capacity. For Sardar Sarovar specifically, of the dam’s gross storage of 6140.31 MCM, the live storage component was 2440.31 MCM –42.37 per cent of the dam’s design live storage of 5760 MCM, with dead storage accounting for the remaining 3,700 MCM. Below the level of 110 meters, the Sardar Sarovar draws from its dead storage. The state’s dam safety mechanism has flagged alert for two reservoirs– Wanakbori in Mahisagar district at 83.83 per cent and Dholidhaja in Surendranagar at 80.28 per cent, indicating storage between 80 and 90 per cent.
An official of the Water Resource Department said, “While the local reservoirs in Saurashtra and Kutch are in a depleting state and in need of monsoon recharge, the position of the Narmada reservoir gives the state a critical buffer against rainfall variability in the months ahead. Gujarat is well-positioned to maintain uninterrupted irrigation and drinking water networks in the event of a possible El-Nino effect. The situation is being monitored closely along with weather changes. Even a short spell of good rainfall will immensely help in filling up the local water reserves.”
The dam recorded an average inflow of 7,554 cusecs on Saturday, with releases through the canal head powerhouse at 14,522 cusecs out of the combined flow downstream of 15,705.83 cusecs at the Garudeshwar head regulator. (File Photo/Enhanced using AI) 
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