3 min readVadodaraJul 25, 2026 04:53 PM IST
As many as 14 dams completely filled, 21 on high alert, and over 750 million cubic meters (MCM) of water added in 120 hours; Gujarat’s water worry due to delayed monsoon turned into a high-stakes flood watch Saturday even as the state is still in a deficit regarding overall water storage as compared to July 2025.
According to data from the State Water Resources Department, of the 14 reservoirs that brimmed to 100 per cent capacity, eight are in South Gujarat.
Major schemes like Damanganga are maintaining a delicate balance, discharging 53,000 cusecs directly into river channels after swallowing an inflow of over 55,300 cusecs. In Navsari, both the Jhuj and Kelia dams stand at 100 per cent filling, releasing a controlled spillage downstream.
Saurashtra’s water grid has also seen a rise from 39.14 per cent to 46.39 per cent capacity within 120 hours (since July 20). In Morbi district, the Machchhu-II dam hit Full Reservoir Level at 100 per cent, forcing the release of over 18,500 cusecs of overflow downstream. Bhavnagar’s massive Shetrunji reservoir also remains completely filled, discharging its full inflow of 15,340 cusecs downstream. Wanakbori in Mahisagar and Lakhigram in Surat are also 100 per cent full.
On Saturday afternoon, one of the three open gates of the Aji-2 Dam located near Rajkot Taluka was closed as the inflow decreased.
Meanwhile, the state’s lifeline – the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Narmada – holds a steady buffer at 128.25 meters on Saturday, holding 6,521 MCM (68.93 per cent of gross storage). The reservoir is currently absorbing a steady average inflow of 25,739 cusecs while maintaining a controlled release of over 3,500 cusecs through the Canal Head Powerhouse.
Gross storage compared to 2025
However, despite the flood situation and swift increase in levels in the past week, the statewide storage still lags behind the same period last year. Total gross storage across all regional schemes sits at 1,669.79 MCM, which is lower than the figure recorded on July 25, 2025. In the 206 schemes across the regions, the current storage is 7,080.42 MCM compared to 9,650.28 MCM last year, representing a deficit of 2,569.86 MCM.
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In fact, 13 schemes in South Gujarat, despite the floods, are in a deficit of 1,268 MCM as compared to July 25, 2025. Saurashtra stands at 492.85 MCM, lower than last year’s level, while Central and North Gujarat show deficits of 373.76 MCM and 331.20 MCM, respectively. Kutch holds 103.52 MCM less water than on July 25, 2025.
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