Weakened Monsoon Leaves Rajasthan Dry as India Faces Growing Water‑Security Challenges

The southwest monsoon has weakened after its first phase over Rajasthan, leaving most of the desert state under dry conditions for the coming week. Light rain is possible only in isolated districts of Bikaner, Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Churu, Shekhawati, Jaipur and Bharatpur on July 14‑15. Strong dust‑laden winds of 30‑40 km/h are forecast for Jodhpur and Bikaner divisions, and temperatures reached 41 °C in Phalodi and a low of 24.9 °C in Ajmer.

Across India, more than half of the country’s water reservoirs remain dry. The Central Water Commission reports that 166 major reservoirs hold just 32.38 % of their combined capacity. TERI water‑division advisor Syamal Sarkar warned that “on supply, storage is key… on demand, the question is how to manage needs when supply falls short.” He noted per‑capita water availability has fallen from about 5,000 m³ in 1950 to roughly 1,500 m³ today, below the 1,700 m³ water‑stressed threshold. Government initiatives such as Mission Amrit Sarovar, rain‑water harvesting and the Krishi Sanchay Yojana aim to boost storage and reduce demand. Climate‑induced erratic monsoon patterns are intensifying the urgency of these measures.