Bhubaneswar, June 25 -- Rainfall has remained below normal this monsoon, prompting the Odisha government to focus on water conservation to safeguard farming activities in the coming months. Officials said reservoir levels are lower than last year, leading the administration to initiate precautionary measures well in advance.

According to the Water Resources Department, rainfall recorded in June has been significantly lower than expected. As a result, water levels in major reservoirs, including Rengali and Lower Indra, have remained below normal.

Engineer-in-Chief of the Water Resources Department, Bibhuti Bhusan Dash, said the state is closely monitoring the situation and has already begun conserving available water resources.

"There h...