Water storage fell to less than 50 percent of capacity in 43 percent of India’s 150 major reservoirs this week, with the level falling for the 17th consecutive week. However, the western region, comprising Gujarat and Maharashtra, saw its reservoir levels rise to 67 percent capacity from 65 percent a week ago.
The water situation remains worrying in the northern and southern regions, with the level falling to 46.49 percent and 34 percent of capacity. In the central region, storage falls below 60 percent of capacity. Storage is below normal in 11 states.
According to the weekly live storage status bulletin released by the Central Water Commission (CWC), the storage was 93.527 billion cubic meters (BCM), which is 52 percent of the capacity of 178.784 BCM. Last year, the reservoirs were filled to 83 percent of their capacity and the average for the last 10 years is 97 percent.
Low water storage is a cause of concern, especially for rabi crops, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is forecasting above-normal temperatures this month in most parts of the country.
According to the IMD, 74 percent of the country has experienced insufficient, very insufficient or no rainfall since the start of this year.
Among the 11 states where the water level is much below normal, Andhra Pradesh tops with a level of 52 percent below normal, followed by Bihar with 38 percent, Karnataka with 32 percent. and Punjab with 31 percent. Assam has its reservoirs filled to the brim with the level 177 percent above normal.
Dry and in deficit
In the northern region, 7 of 10 reservoirs were filled to less than 50 percent capacity. Storage in the region accounted for 46.49 percent (48.49 percent last week) of capacity from 19,663 BCM to 9,141 BCM. A single tank has more than 80 percent storage.
In the southern region, the level was 34 percent (36 percent) from 53,334 BCM to 18,360 BCM. Of the 43 reservoirs, storage in 22 is less than 50 percent capacity. Apart from lower storage in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu also has a storage level that is 12% lower than normal.
Storage in the eastern region accounted for 61 percent (63.5 percent) of the 20,430 BCM to 12,532 BCM. Of the 23 reservoirs, the level of eight of them is below 50 percent capacity, although three are filled to capacity. Besides Bihar, Bengal (-3 percent), Nagaland (-17 percent), Odisha (-3 percent) and Tripura (-4 percent) had lower storage.
The situation in the western region looked better with Maharashtra now having 2 per cent higher storage than normal. Of the region’s 49 reservoirs, 37 are filled to more than 50 percent capacity, but only one reservoir is filled to capacity.
In the central region, 14 of 26 reservoirs are below 50 percent capacity. Storage this week represented 59 percent (61 percent) of capacity from 48,227 BCM to 28,513 BCM. Among the states in the region, the level in Uttar Pradesh was 27 percent and Chhattisgarh 18 percent below normal, respectively.
With snowfall reported in the northern region and some areas receiving rain, there will likely be some improvement in storage levels next week.
