With scanty winter rains and snow this season in the region, the Central Water Commission (CWC) has issued a warning to Himachal Pradesh, urging the state government to take measures for meeting the challenge of dealing with the ‘drought’-like’ situation in coming months.
The state witnessed very low rainfall and snow this winter season as per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) report. During the post-monsoon period (from October 2024 to February 7, 2025), large parts of the state have experienced a rainfall deficit of more than 90 percent.
The IMD has noted severe fluctuations in precipitation trends, with excessive rainfall in 2022 followed by an extreme deficit in 2024 and early 2025.
The absence of rainfall and snow has resulted in reduced storage in major water reservoirs of the state, i.e., Gobind Sagar (Bhakra Dam), Pong Dam, and Kol Dam, with water levels falling considerably.
As per the CWC report, “The Bhakra Dam’s Gobind Sagar Reservoir has 2.227 billion cubic meters of water, nearly 36 percent of its total storage capacity, and water storage has fallen by 19 percent; all other reservoirs are having low water storage this winter season too.”
Climatic studies suggest Himachal Pradesh’s average temperature has risen by 1.5°C over the past century, leading to accelerated glacier melting and reduced groundwater recharge.
Consequently, natural springs, primary water sources for rural communities, are drying up at an alarming rate. Many villages in the upper reaches are now dependent on water tankers, which are proving inadequate given the scale of the crisis.
Concerned over the situation, former Deputy Mayor of Shimla Municipal Corporation Tikender Panwar has written a letter to the Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh to urgently initiate the protocols and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to prepare the state and its people for mitigating the challenges of the looming drought.
“This situation will disrupt agricultural patterns and severely impact drinking water schemes, most of which are poorly planned and rely on lift-based pumping systems and need immediate attention. The government should take short-term, medium-term, and long-term measures,” he highlighted in the letter.
it is reality that almost all planning has failed to the larger extent. it means either planner has to change their mental set-up or planning not implemented truly.