Long spell of extreme heat dries up even reserve stock of water bodies
   Date :14-Jun-2019

 
By Rajan Raikwar:
 
Insufficient rainfall in past few years has resulted below average water accumulation in different water reservoirs of the State and present summer season, which was the hottest so far, almost dried up water in many major dams of State. Earlier, dams used to have some water before the onset of monsoon. But this time, extreme heat and long spell of heat wave have almost dried up many dams and they have very less or almost no water. This situation has alarmed the Water Resources Department and now it is praying for good rains in monsoon which seems to be late this time and supposed to hit State on June 25. Normally, monsoon reaches Madhya Pradesh by June 15.
 
 
“Our dams have very less water. Earlier, our dams used to have some water left before the arrival of monsoon and left over water was carried forward and this used to mitigate water requirement demand to great extent. But this time, situation is totally different as dams have almost no or very less water or say that water level in most dams has reached even below dead level. Now we are praying for good rains in state,” said Engineer in Chief (Bhopal) of Water Resources Department, Rajeev Kumar Sukalikar. He added that water level has reached minimum level in Barna Dam (Raisen), Tawa Dam (Hoshangabad), Rajghat Dam, Gandhi Sagar Dam, Mani Kheda dam, Mahi Dam etc.
 
“The less rainfall in previous years and faster evaporation of water in dams than the estimation has resulted into very less water in dams,” he added. Notably, State witnessed long spells of extreme heat and this resulted into evaporation of surface water at high rate. As dams are major sources of irrigation, particularly during rabi season, hence, even farmers are praying for good rains.
 
When contacted, State President of Bharatiya Kisan Union, Anil Yadav told ‘The Hitavada’ that everyone is praying for bountiful rains so that dams have adequate water. If it rains less then dams will obviously have less water for irrigation during rabi season. In the event of less rains, government should prepare a contingency plan. In the event of rainfall below expectation, Government should encourage farmers for those crops which require less water.