With 69 per cent of the country receiving no rainfall since January 1, the water level in the 155 major Indian reservoirs declined to 50 per cent of the capacity this week.

Data from the Central Water Commission (CWC) showed that the level in the major storages dipped to 89.833 billion cubic metres (BCM) (50 per cent) of the 180.852 BCM capacity. CWC’s weekly storage data of the major reservoirs showed that the level in 68 reservoirs was below 50 per cent of the capacity while only two –in the eastern region –are full.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), data received from 713 districts show that 69 per cent of the country received no rainfall, another 12 per cent received deficient rainfall. 

Western disturbance

Thanks to the Western disturbances, the situation improved in the northern region. The level in 11 reservoirs of the region improved by one percentage point to 29 per cent of the 19.836 BCM capacity at 5.687 BCM. The level in Punjab’s lone dam increased to 19 per cent (12 per cent last week) of the capacity, while in Himachal, the level was up a tad at 23 per cent. In Rajasthan, however, the storage dropped to 48 per cent.

In the eastern region’s 25 reservoirs, the storage was down to 49 per cent of the 20.798 BCM capacity at 10.201 BCM. Jharkhand and Tripura had levels of above 60 per cent, and it was unchanged at 19 per cent in Bihar, while in Bengal, it was 53 per cent. In the rest, the storage was below 50 per cent. 

The western region was the one with better storage, with its 50 reservoirs filled to 61 per cent or 22.947 BCM of the 37.357 BCM capacity. While the level was 73 per cent of Goa’s lone reservoirs, it was above 60 per cent in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

More fall likely?

In the central region’s 26 reservoirs, the storage was 52 per cent of the 48.227 BCM capacity at 25.249 BCM. Barring Madhya Pradesh, which had a level of 56 per cent, the storage in the rest dropped below 50 per cent. 

Of the 43 reservoirs in the Southern region, the level was 47 per cent of the 54.634 BCM capacity at 25.749 BCM. Storages in Tamil Nadu were filled to 75 per cent, and in Andhra, they were filled to 65 per cent. The level in Kerala was 52 per cent, while in the rest it was below 50 per cent.

With IMD forecasting above-normal temperatures for March, the levels will likely drop further.