Apprehension of a Severe Water Crisis in West Bengal

15-May-2026 05:31 PM

Kolkata: Indications are emerging of an impending drought crisis in West Bengal ahead of the arrival of the Southwest Monsoon. Due to a lack of rainfall and soaring temperatures, the state's water sources have begun to dry up. In the state's dams and reservoirs, the remaining water stock stands at a mere 12.5 percent of their total storage capacity. A significant portion of these reservoirs has already gone dry.

It is noteworthy that West Bengal is a leading producer of paddy and rice in the country, with cultivation taking place across vast tracts of land during the Kharif season. Compounding the general scarcity of water, groundwater levels have also plummeted significantly; consequently, farmers may face an arduous struggle ahead in irrigating their crops.

Water levels in dams and reservoirs have declined substantially across the entire Eastern India region. In the 27 major reservoirs located there, the remaining water stock amounts to only one-third (33.5 percent) of their total storage capacity. This figure has dropped to 22 percent in Assam and 28 percent in Odisha. Water levels remain critically low in Bihar as well.

In comparison, the situation appears relatively better in Jharkhand, Meghalaya, and Tripura. Farmers are gripped by the fear that if rainfall remains deficient during the Southwest Monsoon season, the paddy crop could suffer severe damage.