# Ratlam reserves Dholawad Dam water for drinking, warns farmers 2026-09-21T19:48:09+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Ratlam district's Dholawad Dam, the main drinking water source for the city, is only 45% full after a deficient monsoon. The administration has decided to reserve the remaining stock for drinking water and not release it for wheat irrigation. At a weekly review meeting on Monday, collector Ajay Katesariya directed officials to ensure dam water is not used for wheat cultivation. Agriculture and horticulture departments have been asked to advise farmers to grow less water-intensive crops like gram. The district received around 22 inches of rainfall by mid-September, nearly 40% below normal. With the monsoon nearing withdrawal, authorities have been ordered to take strict action against water theft and unauthorised irrigation, including seizing pumps and registering cases. ## Indian Opinion Analysis This is not the first time Ratlam has faced a drinking water crisis. In 2023, the district received around 48 inches of rainfall in the same period, making the current deficit of 38% stark. The collector's order to prioritise drinking over irrigation mirrors the state government's standard drought-response protocol, which gives domestic use first claim on reservoir water. Farmers who have already sown wheat will now bear the loss, as gram requires only a third of the water wheat does. The real test will be whether the dam's remaining 45% stock lasts through the summer. The next critical date is the withdrawal of the monsoon, after which no significant inflow is expected. The district administration will then have to impose a rationing schedule if levels drop further. ## Coverage - freepressjournal.in Tags: Ajay Katesariya, Dholawad Dam, Madhya Pradesh, Ratlam, water crisis Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/ratlam-reserves-dholawad-dam-water-for-drinking-warns-farmers/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/ratlam-reserves-dholawad-dam-water-for-drinking-warns-farmers/#story-in-brief