Western Rajasthan is grappling with a severe water crisis after the Punjab government extended the closure of the Indira Gandhi Canal, disrupting supplies to several districts already enduring extreme heat. With temperatures surpassing 45 degrees Celsius and no rainfall, officials report a sharp surge in demand for drinking water and irrigation.
Districts Hit Hard
The Public Health Engineering Department is struggling to manage the growing shortage in Barmer, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Hanumangarh, and Sriganganagar districts. The disruption has affected both urban and remote areas, where water supply intervals have widened and tanker availability remains inadequate.
Canal Desilting Delays
According to senior officials from the Department of Water Resources, the crisis worsened because desilting work on the canal took longer than anticipated. “Finally, the Punjab government started releasing water from Thursday, and on Friday around 7,000 cusecs of the allotted 10,000 cusecs began entering Rajasthan. For downstream districts like Jodhpur and Barmer, normalcy is expected by May 20 or 21,” an engineer stated.
Even with partial restoration, downstream districts continue to face severe stress. “In Barmer, we used to supply water on alternate days. Now the waiting period is almost four to five days. We don’t have enough tankers to cater to remote and last-mile locations. Locals have already demonstrated at a few PHED circle offices,” a PHED official said.
Lifeline Under Strain
The Indira Gandhi Canal is the lifeline of 12 districts in Rajasthan. The prolonged disruption has exposed the region’s vulnerability during the peak summer season, highlighting the urgent need for better infrastructure and contingency planning.
