'Reservoir levels not alarming; Jal Jeevan on track'

Water levels in India’s major reservoirs have slipped below the levels of last year; however, according to Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, there is no cause for alarm since these levels are still higher than the average of last 10 years, ensuring uninterrupted irrigation through the parched months ahead.

- Puja Das & Utpal Bhaskar

Some states have asked for extending Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) beyond the targeted 2024, said Shekhawat, responsible for ensuring the flagship mission’s task to provide tap water connections to all rural households—seen as significant to ensure a 2024 Lok Sabha election victory for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. In an interview, Shekhawat also spoke of preparatory work to divert excess water under the Indus treaty to irrigate India’s own land, which may require an investment of ₹6,000-7,000 crore. Edited excerpts:

India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted monsoon at 96% of the long-period average (LPA), while Skymet has forecast 94%. What is your reading of this, since there is a 5% year-on-year drop in storage at 146 major reservoirs amid predictions of El Nino compromising the Southwest monsoon?

IMD’s monsoon forecast is fair. 96% is considered the normal monsoon. As far as water reservoir levels are concerned, it is better than the average of the last 10 years. Even if you look at the last three years’ average, it is good. The reserve of foodgrains India has and the growing capacity it has to date, and if you look at the last five years’ data, we are a food-surplus nation. We do not have a challenge. I don’t think there is anything concerning at this moment.