Kutch water crisis deepens: Bhuj lost 54 of its 82 lakes; pastoralists migrate first time since 2018
The report, published in the latest edition of HIC's "Climate & Community" newsletter, warns that "rainfall recovery is not the same as water-security recovery," even as Kutch's rainfall deficit narrowed to approximately 34% by September 16 following an intense spell that brought 257 mm of rain in just two days.
A Fragile Reprieve: When 25% of Rainfall Arrives in 28 Hours
Aseem Mishra, Director of the HIC Programme, writes that while cumulative rainfall reached roughly 389 mm, "almost 25% of the season's rainfall reportedly arrived within just 28 hours." Such concentrated precipitation, he warns, "can generate runoff and flooding without necessarily creating dependable water storage."
The agricultural impact has been severe. According to the report, 4.82 lakh hectares were cultivated this year, down sharply from 6.5 lakh hectares last year. Only 1.80 lakh hectares are irrigated, with the rest depending on rainfall. Kutch's 20 medium irrigation schemes received only about 4.94% new water despite recent rains. While Karaghogha dam in Mundra reached 100.1% capacity, several other reservoirs remain far below capacity.
Pastoral Migration Returns to Western Kutch
The report documents the first major pastoral migration in western Kutch since 2018, with Maldhari families in Lakhpat, Abdasa, and other areas moving livestock due to inadequate grass and water. More than 700 animals have already been moved from Lakhpat, with fears that 2,500 to 3,000 animals could eventually require relocation. The district administration opened 52 grass distribution depots, issued 27,750 cards, and distributed 17.35 lakh kg of grass by September 10, though pastoral representatives say this remains "far below actual requirements." Sarhad Dairy's daily milk procurement fell to approximately 4 lakh litres from an expected 5 lakh litres.
"Late and intense rainfall has brought some relief, but it has not erased the livelihood crisis created by weeks of inadequate rain," Mishra writes, noting that the crisis "comes after nearly two decades during which Saurashtra and Kutch experienced relative water security, helped by better rainfall and the spread of Narmada waters."
Bhuj's Vanishing Water Heritage: 82 Lakes Reduced to 38
The report's Data Corner presents alarming findings on Bhuj's water infrastructure. Of 82 recorded lakes that once "stored water, recharged groundwater levels, and quenched the thirst of this arid land," only 38 remain today. Of those, 6 are in critical condition and described as "on the brink of disappearing altogether." A 2010-11 survey by Arid Communities and Technologies recorded 335 open wells across Bhuj, of which 21 are now defunct.
The report describes the loss of Daberai Lake at Khawda Road near Sarpat Gate and shows images of a defunct well near Hospital Road, Bhuj, now filled with garbage.
Community-Led Solutions Offer Hope
Despite the grim statistics, the report highlights community-driven responses.
Hansaben, a construction worker and resident of Bhuj, describes how extreme heat affected her family. "Because of the extreme heat, workers sometimes get dizzy, and there have been cases of people fainting and losing consciousness. One day, my husband went through this too and had to be taken to the hospital and given injections."
Working with AINA (Artisans in Architecture), Hansaben's roof was modified with a second tin sheet fitted a few inches above the first, creating an air gap for ventilation, along with light-coloured paint to reflect sunlight. The results have been significant: indoor temperatures are 6 to 7 degrees lower than outdoor temperatures during peak heat, and nearly 50 homes across Bhuj have been retrofitted so far. AINA plans to expand city-wide.
"Before, during summers, we had to spend almost half our earnings on medicines and hospital bills because of health issues caused by the heat," Hansaben says. "Our electricity bills used to be very high too. Since we got this done, none of that happens to us any more."
The report also profiles Fatmaben Hussainbhai Jat, who despite never having a formal education, has become a prominent community leader in Bapadayalu Nagar, Bhuj. She leads her area's Self Help Group, serves on the executive committee of Sakhi Sangini, a community-led women's organisation under Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan, and has represented her community at an international workshop in Thailand.
"No one in our area believed the women could build this well," Fatmaben says of a drinking water well constructed through her leadership. "But we proved it."
Her daughter became the first in the family to receive an education, inspiring other girls nearby. "If women set their minds to it, they can move mountains," she says.
The report also documents how HIC training sessions for Safai Saarthis, or sanitation workers, across Wards 3 to 11 of Bhuj Nagarpalika, focused on Solid Waste Management Rules implemented in April 2026, have helped workers handle difficult situations.
Iqbal Bhai, supervisor of Ward Number 5, described resolving a dispute where a resident demanded a sanitation worker remove construction debris. He explained that citizens pay an annual sanitation tax of ₹300, roughly ₹0.80 per day, far less than the worker's daily salary, and that handling construction debris isn't part of the job. The training has since helped workers "calmly explain their responsibilities and the resident's, resolving the situation in the same way."
The Role of Civil Society in Building Resilience
Arun Vachhrajani, a member of the HIC Steering Committee, argues in the report's Feature Story that "resilient communities cannot be built through top-down programmes."
"Development should not be something delivered to people — it should be something people actively participate in creating," Vachhrajani writes, emphasising that "the true strength of a democracy is measured not by the number of elections it conducts, but by the quality of life it provides to its citizens."
He cites examples including Kantilal Arya, known as "Talav Kaka," whose individual efforts have helped save and protect several lakes in and around Bhuj, and the Bhuj Active Citizen Forum, which engages youth in local governance.
Urban Heat Island Effect: A Growing Challenge
The report explains the Urban Heat Island Effect, noting that cities can be "several degrees hotter than the rural or green areas around them — sometimes by as much as 3 to 5°C, especially at night."
Factors include dark-coloured surfaces absorbing sunlight, reduced green cover, heat from vehicles and air conditioners, and tall buildings blocking wind flow. The report cites Ahmedabad's 2019 Heat Action Plan and its cool roof programme, along with Rajkot's 2020 plan emphasising water bodies, fountains, and green spaces, as examples of municipal responses. It warns that "mitigation on paper won't change the problem on the ground — it needs proactive and efficient implementation."
The Path Forward
Mishra concludes with a critical question: "Can Kutch depend on external water transfers alone to remain resilient in an increasingly variable climate?"
The answer, he argues, requires "investment in both immediate relief and local water resilience — restoration of village ponds and traditional water-harvesting systems, protection of grazing commons, local fodder banks, livestock-water infrastructure, stronger rainfed farming and better drainage."
"Narmada water has undoubtedly transformed Kutch's water landscape, but the current crisis shows that access remains uneven and that transferred water cannot substitute for healthy local ecosystems and resilient livelihoods", states the report, adding, "The recent rains have bought Kutch some time. The challenge now is to use that time to rebuild the systems that can help farmers and pastoralists withstand the next dry spell — before another drought forces them back onto the road."
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