Rajasthan: Bisalpur dam 34% full due to less rain in catchment areas

JAIPUR: Even as the dams, including Kota Barrage, Jawahar Sagar, Rana Pratap Sagar are brimming with water having attained almost 90 % and above water level, Bisalpur dam is still 34% filled.
Engineers at the dam stated that from the 15% water level at the start of the monsoon season, it has now attained 34% level. Its catchment areas, including Bhilwara and Chittorgarh, are yet to receive heavy rainfall which is the reason why the dam is yet to attain good water level.
TOI on Tuesday spoke to the authorities of the Jaipur Met office and Bisalpur dam to know the reasons why the dam catering to the drinking water needs of Tonk, Jaipur and Ajmer is still less than 50% filled to its full capacity.
“We have had good rainfall across the state except in Bhilwara, Rajsamand and Chittorgarh where normal rainfall is only witnessed. These two districts are the catchment areas from where Bisalpur dam gets water,” said Manish Bansal, executive engineer at the Bisalpur dam.
Bansal added that these three districts are actually responsible for filling up the dam. “Hopefully in the next phase these three districts will get ample rainfall to provide good water level at the Bisalpur dam,” he added.
When contacted, a senior officer of Jaipur Met office on the performance of Bhilwara, Chittorgarh and Rajsamand, said, “Chittorgarh and Bhilwara during this year so far are in the normal rainfall category which means they have received minus 19% to plus 19% rainfall compared to what they had received till August 10, 2021.”
According to the authorities of Jaipur Met office Chittorgarh has received a rainfall of 415.55mm till August 10, compared to 409mm of rainfall received during the year-ago period. So far Bhilwara is concerned, it has received a rainfall of 314.52mm till August 10, compared to 348.50 in the year-ago period. Likewise, Rajsamand is still in the category of deficit rainfall.
“At Rajsamand the rainfall till Tuesday is 235.86 mm compared to 306.10 mm received till August 10, 2020,” said an officer.