Since abrupt weather conditions continued in May and June, the evaporation factor also did not play much role on the dams’ water, said officials of the water resources department. Now the authorities are gearing up for the monsoon as they anticipate many of the dams to be filled beyond capacity and overflow.
“The water level at Bisalpur dam is currently 313.04 RL/meter against its full capacity of 315.50 RL/meter. It is 58.16% filed now, and we are hopeful that at least three good spells of rain in its catchment area will make it filled to capacity this season,” said Manish Bansal, the executive engineer of Bisalpur dam, to TOI on Thursday. Kota barrage is almost 96.31% filled. “Against its full capacity of 259.72 RL/meter, the present water level in the dam is 259.66 RL/meter. It just needs a good rainfall of 24 hours to get fully filled,” said an officer of the water resources department. Anticipating that many dams in the state are likely to attain full capacity, chief secretary Usha Sharma recently instructed the officials to organise mock drills and ensure safety at the dams.
“We usually start making contingency plans after the first spell of monsoon rainfall. However, incessant rainfall in many districts due to Cyclone Biparjoy has prompted us to start our homework now,” said an engineer of the water resources department. Cyclone Biparjoy has also recharged many of the rain-fed rivers in the state.
“Many smaller rain-fed rivers are currently briming with water. In Tonk, Barmer, Jalore and Sirohi, farmers have already started ploughing their fields for sowing of Kharif crop,” said an officer with the irrigation department. Meanwhile, Jaipur Met office said southwest monsoon is likely to enter Rajasthan by June 25. “Conditions are becoming favourable for the onset of monsoon in Rajasthan by June 25,” said Jaipur Met office director Radhey Shyam Sharma.
