📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Yann Forget
Agriculture
Madhya Pradesh's Major Dams Over 90% Full Despite Below‑Normal Rainfall, Rabi Water Budget to Be Finalised
✍️ Amar Ujala · Bhopal
🗓 30 Sep 2026, 10:15 PM
👁 13
Most of Madhya Pradesh’s large reservoirs are more than 90% full even though the state received below‑average rainfall, prompting officials to draft a water budget for the upcoming Rabi season.
The water‑level survey of Madhya Pradesh’s reservoirs shows that 35 major dams have crossed the 90% capacity mark, despite the western part of the state recording about 12% less rainfall than the long‑term average. Overall, 54 large dams are averaging a storage of 89.32%, indicating ample water availability for the coming months.
State officials said the high reservoir levels will allow the government to formulate a comprehensive water budget aimed at meeting irrigation demands and drinking‑water needs during the Rabi season. The budget will allocate water releases based on crop patterns and regional requirements, ensuring that farmers receive sufficient supply for wheat, pulses and oilseeds.
The department also highlighted that the surplus water reduces the immediate risk of drought in the western districts, which had been flagged for lower precipitation. Continuous monitoring will be carried out to adjust releases as the monsoon withdraws and the Rabi season progresses.
Experts note that maintaining such high storage levels is crucial for stabilising agricultural output in a state where a significant share of the population depends on farming. The upcoming water budget will be presented to the state cabinet later this week.
State officials said the high reservoir levels will allow the government to formulate a comprehensive water budget aimed at meeting irrigation demands and drinking‑water needs during the Rabi season. The budget will allocate water releases based on crop patterns and regional requirements, ensuring that farmers receive sufficient supply for wheat, pulses and oilseeds.
The department also highlighted that the surplus water reduces the immediate risk of drought in the western districts, which had been flagged for lower precipitation. Continuous monitoring will be carried out to adjust releases as the monsoon withdraws and the Rabi season progresses.
Experts note that maintaining such high storage levels is crucial for stabilising agricultural output in a state where a significant share of the population depends on farming. The upcoming water budget will be presented to the state cabinet later this week.