Rains fail to bring respite to Saurashtra

The position of Rajkot and Surendranagar is causing concern among the people, as well as farmers. Jamnagar though is slightly better off. This coastal district usually faces water scarcity as it is the last to receive rain. However, this year the position has been reversed and therefore the water level here is good.

In Saurashtra, the clouds have proved deceptive, with no rain since the last six days. The Bhadar dam, the main source of water for Rajkot and Jetpur cities, has seen a fall in water level. The water level, which was 4.2 feet, has dropped to four feet. In the last 24 hours, only one dam under the Rajkot Irrigation Circle has shown increase in water quantity, as against fall in four dams. The fall in water level is mainly due to the continuing water supply.

At the beginning of the year, the 64 dams under the circle had six per cent of their capacity. Now, with almost half the monsoon over, there has been only an increase of three per cent.