Due to the impact of the El Niño phenomenon, the arrival of the monsoon has been delayed in several parts of the country this year. In Gujarat’s border district of Kutch, where the monsoon typically arrives between June 20 and June 25, the rains have been pushed back, triggering early signs of a severe water crisis in the region.

 

According to official data from the Irrigation Department, Kutch’s 20 medium irrigation dams are left with only 27% of their water capacity. Among these, five dams – including Kalia, Rudramata, Kaswati, Nirona, and Gajod – have dried up completely.

 

The situation is even more critical for the 170 minor dams in the district, which currently hold a mere 13% of their total water capacity, with usable water accounting for just 8%.