AHMEDABAD: Scanty rainfall has reduced the water stock in dams which have 255 million cubic metre (mcm) less water compared to last year.

Officials said that less rains in the past fortnight completely changed the water levels in the dams. On July 20, the state had 12% more water compared to last year. On Monday, dams reported 1.12% less water than August 8, 2010. Officials said that the situation was such that the agricultural department was even forced to release some water for irrigation. Citing example of north Gujarat, he said that on August 7, 2011, there was 299.16 mcm, but on August 8 about 0.16 mcm water was released from the dams for irrigation.