As Water Scarcity Looms, Panjab CM Allows Early Paddy Transplantation

Information released by the Central Water Commission on 27 Mar reveals the combined water storage in key reservoirs in Panjab and Himachal Pradesh are 52% and 46% below normal, respectively. Water levels in dams across all of north-west of India are significantly below normal for this time of the year. The reduced water levels could potentially impact power generation and the availability of water for irrigation. Additionally, rainfall in north-west India has been deficient this season. At Bhakra Dam, which lies on the river Satluj in Himachal Pradesh, the current storage is 1.247 billion cubic metres (BCM) against its total capacity of 6.229 BCM, making for 20% water availability. The average storage at Bhakra over the past 10 years at this time of the year is 33%. The current storage at Pong Dam on the river Beas in Himachal Pradesh is 13% as compared to the 10-year average of 25%. Thein Dam on the river Ravi in Panjab current storage is 20% of its total capacity, compared to the 10-year average of 41%. The rainfall in Panjab during March so far has been significantly deficient. According to the data compiled by the India Meteorological Department from 1-28 Mar, Panjab received 7.6 mm rainfall compared to the long-period average of 21.5 mm, accounting for a shortfall of 65%. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said on 30 Mar, Panjab will begin paddy transplantation on 1 Jun, 10 days earlier than last year, in an effort to help farmers avoid high moisture content in their harvest. These orders are a violation of the Punjab Preservation of Subsoil Water Act, 2009. Mann said the state will be divided into four zones of six to seven districts each for a structured transplantation process adding that the state will procure PR 126, 127, 128, and 129 varieties of rice as recommended by Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.