‘Greater’ fall in Upper Lake level raises concerns

Bhopal: Water levels in Bhopal's Upper Lake, which supplies drinking water to nearly 40% of the city's residents (about 8–10 lakh people), have shown a steady decline this pre-monsoon season, raising concerns about supply sustainability.According to Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) monitoring, the lake stood at 1663.15 feet on March 9, but dropped to 1662.10 feet by April 5 — a fall of 1.05 feet over 27 days. The average daily depletion rate was about 0.039 feet.Comparable figures from last year show a similar trend. Between March 26 and April 8, 2025, the lake level fell from 1662.10 feet to 1661.65 feet, a decline of 0.45 feet over 13 days, averaging 0.035 feet per day. Past summers show sharper depletion, meaning Upper Lake could hit, alarmingly close to the dead storage level of 1652 ft in event of delayed monsoon.Experts note that while the pace of decline is nearly identical across both years, the absolute drop in 2026 has been greater, partly because the monitoring period was longer and the starting level higher. "The depletion rate is consistent with seasonal evaporation and reduced inflows during late March and early April," said a BMC official on the concerns.Upper Lake, also known as Bhojtal, supplies drinking water to a large portion of Bhopal's population. Any sustained fall in levels before the monsoon poses risks to urban water security. Officials warn that if the current rate continues, the lake could lose another foot by the end of April, potentially stressing reserves.BMC says it continues to urge residents to conserve water and minimize wastage. Past years have shown that monsoon rains are critical to replenishing the reservoir and stabilizing supply.With summer approaching, the situation underscores the importance of careful monitoring and conservation measures. If monsoon rains are delayed or weaker than average, the city could face significant stress on drinking water reserves.