Climate change is touted to influence monsoon in the coming years.
There is a serious call for mitigating actions from concerned governments.
In India, arid states like Gujarat are of particular concern.
What is the situation in Gujarat?
Drought in India is growing in severity, and it is being aggravated by heat waves and significant rain deficits in different regions.
On the cusp of the southwest monsoon, several arid States are hoping to revive their rivers and reservoirs with bountiful rain.
Gujarat government has embarked on a labour-intensive programme to desilt rivers and water-bodies ahead of the rains.
Notably, fall in reservoir storage levels in the Sardar Sarovar Dam, and 27 other reservoirs, had severely affected the farmers of the state last year.
Considering the dire situation, drinking water needs are being prioritized, and supply for irrigation from dams has already been suspended for now.
This underscores the need for comprehensive reforms at the level of States, with the Centre helping to conserve hydrological resources.
What more can be done?
Gujarat needs to improve rural water storage structures to ensure long-term prosperity for its drier regions - Saurashtra, Kutch and North Gujarat.
This will ensure relief for farmers from the monsoon vagaries that affect the Narmada, whose waters are apportioned among four States.
As studies have estimated that public irrigation efficiency to be as low 35%, work needs to be commenced to better this by usage of field technologies.
Decentralised water storage too will help cities like Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat and Vadodara when supply from large dams and other sources dwindles.
