Kota-Bundi farmers to get 3,000 cusecs more water after Om Birla's push
Synopsis
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has secured a second irrigation relief for Kota-Bundi farmers in ten days — this time an additional 3,000 cusecs that will more than double canal flow to 5,000 cusecs. With a weak monsoon suppressing reservoir levels, the inter-state water coordination between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh is the only buffer keeping the Kharif season alive for thousands of farmers.
Key Takeaways
3,000 cusecs of additional irrigation water will be released — 2,000 cusecs from Gandhi Sagar Dam and 1,000 cusecs from Rana Pratap Sagar Dam .
Total canal flow will rise from 2,000 cusecs to 5,000 cusecs , benefiting farmers in Kota , Bundi , and Baran .
This is the second intervention in ten days by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla ; the first, on 10 July , secured 1,800 cusecs .
A below-normal monsoon has kept Rana Pratap Sagar Dam water levels below normal, triggering the shortage.
Officials indicated further releases are possible if rainfall improves and reservoir levels recover.
Farmers in Kota, Bundi, and Baran districts are set to receive significant irrigation relief after Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla intervened to address a critical water shortage during the ongoing Kharif season. Following discussions between Birla and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, an additional 3,000 cusecs of water will be released into the canal network — 2,000 cusecs from Gandhi Sagar Dam and 1,000 cusecs from Rana Pratap Sagar Dam.
How the Water Flow Will Change
Canal supply in the region currently stands at around 2,000 cusecs. With the additional release, total flow will rise to 5,000 cusecs, providing much-needed support to cultivators dependent on canal irrigation for their Kharif crops. As an immediate step, 1,000 cusecs was released from Rana Pratap Sagar Dam on Monday. The remaining 2,000 cusecs from Gandhi Sagar Dam was assured without delay by the Additional Chief Secretary, Water Resources Department, Madhya Pradesh, on the directions of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
A Weak Monsoon Behind the Crisis
A below-normal monsoon this year has kept water levels at Rana Pratap Sagar Dam under stress, directly curtailing canal availability for the Kharif season. Officials indicated that if rainfall improves and reservoir levels recover in the coming days, further releases into the canal system may be considered. The situation has put thousands of farmers across the Kota-Bundi belt in a difficult position at a critical point in the crop calendar.
Birla's Second Intervention in Ten Days
This is the second time within ten days that the Madhya Pradesh government has agreed, following Birla's intervention, to release additional irrigation water from Gandhi Sagar Dam. On 10 July, a delegation of farmers met Birla and raised concern over the canal water shortage and its impact on Kharif cultivation. Birla immediately took up the matter with Madhya Pradesh officials and the state government, pressing for additional releases. Acting on his request, 1,800 cusecs of additional water was released at that time.
What Farmers Can Expect Next
With the latest decision to release another 3,000 cusecs, farmers across Kota, Bundi, and Baran are expected to receive substantial relief through the remainder of the Kharif season. The Regional Development Commissioner (CAD), Anil Kumar Agarwal, received the formal assurance from Madhya Pradesh authorities on Monday. Whether further releases follow will depend on how the monsoon performs over the next fortnight.
Point of View
Leaving them reliant on inter-state goodwill rather than treaty-backed water entitlements. Birla's repeated personal interventions — twice in ten days — signal that the formal water-sharing mechanism between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh is either too slow or too rigid to respond to seasonal crises in real time. The deeper question is whether a 5,000-cusec flow, secured through political channels, is sufficient for the full Kharif demand, or merely a stopgap that defers a larger reckoning if the monsoon stays weak.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much additional irrigation water will Kota-Bundi farmers receive?
An additional 3,000 cusecs will be released — 2,000 cusecs from Gandhi Sagar Dam and 1,000 cusecs from Rana Pratap Sagar Dam. This raises total canal flow from the current 2,000 cusecs to 5,000 cusecs.
Why is there a water shortage for Kharif crops in Kota and Bundi?
A weak monsoon this year has kept water levels at Rana Pratap Sagar Dam below normal, reducing the availability of canal water for Kharif cultivation across the Kota-Bundi-Baran region.
What role did Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla play in securing the water release?
Birla directly engaged Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and state officials to press for additional releases. This is his second such intervention in ten days; the first, on 10 July, resulted in 1,800 cusecs being released after a farmers' delegation met him.
When will the additional water reach the canals?
As an immediate measure, 1,000 cusecs was released from Rana Pratap Sagar Dam on Monday. Madhya Pradesh authorities have assured that the remaining 2,000 cusecs from Gandhi Sagar Dam will follow without delay.
Could more water be released if the monsoon improves?
Yes. Officials indicated that if rainfall picks up and reservoir levels rise in the coming days, further releases into the canal system may be considered beyond the current 3,000-cusec commitment.
