The water storage in India’s 155 major reservoirs  declined for the 11th week in a row this week with the levels in all regions barring the central dipping below 70 per cent of the capacity, data from the Central Water Commission (CWC) showed.

According to CWC’s weekly bulletin on the status of the 155 major reservoirs, the storage this week was 68 per cent of the 180.852 billion cubic metres (BCM) capacity at 123.805 BCM. The level is higher than last year and the average of the last 10 years (normal storage).

The storage has been declining as the country received below-normal post-monsoon rainfall with over 60 per cent of the country getting deficient rainfall. The southern peninsula received record rainfall in December, though.

IMD data

Data from India Meteorological Department (IMD) show that 85 per cent of the 719 districts, from where information is available, received deficient or no rainfall between January 1 and 16.  The situation is unlikely to impact rabi crops this year. 

In the northern region, the storage in 11 reservoirs dropped to 40 per cent of the 19.836 BCM capacity at 8.016 BCM. Punjab had the lowest level in the country at 21 per cent of the capacity. In Himachal, it was 33 per cent and in Rajasthan it was 68 per cent.

Of the 25 reservoirs in the eastern region, the storage was 65 per cent of the 20.798 BCM capacity at 13.612 BCM. Tripura (80 per cent), Jharkhand (73 per cent) and West Bengal (72 per cent) had better storage than other States, while the level in Bihar’s lone reservoirs slipped to 26 per cent of the capacity.

In the western region, the level in the 50 reservoirs was 80 per cent or 29.809 BCM of 37.357 BCM. Goa’s lone reservoir was filled to 93 per cent, while in Maharashtra and Gujarat the storage was 81 per cent and 78 per cent, respectively.

Next fortnight key

The Central region was the only one to have above 70 per cent storage. Its 26 reservoirs were filled to 72 per cent of the 48.227 BCM capacity at 34.518 BCM. The level in Madhya Pradesh was 76 per cent, while it was above 60 per cent in Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand. 

In the 43 reservoirs of the southern region, the storage was 69 per cent or 37.85 BCM of the 48.227 BCM capacity. Tamil Nadu boasted the best level at 89 per cent, while it was 80 per cent in Telangana. In the rest of the States, it was above 70 per cent.

The situation will likely improve if the IMD’s forecast of above-normal rainfall in January turns true over the next fortnight.