CWC report – Water storage levels in India’s 150 major reservoirs increased for third week in a row
The Central Water Commission (CWC) reported that water storage levels in India’s 150 major reservoirs increased for the third week in a row, though they fell in the northern region.
At least 13 states have lower-than-normal storage, though the number of dry reservoirs has decreased from seven to three in the last month, according to CWC’s weekly bulletin on the live storage status of 150 reservoirs across the country.
The reservoirs had 29 % (26 percent last week) of their total capacity of 178.784 billion cubic meters (BCM), at 52.722 BCM. Of the 150 reservoirs, 119 still have storage levels below 50% of their capacity. The level in 95 of the 119 is less than 40% of capacity.
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Excess rain
Reservoir storage has improved as a result of a 9% excess rainfall in the first half of July, following an 11% deficit in June. The south-west monsoon slowed in the second week, but it is expected to intensify in the second half.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported on Thursday that cumulative rainfall during the monsoon season was 3% deficient as of July 18. Of the 724 districts from which data was collected, 39% had insufficient rainfall.
While the southern region has received 19% more rainfall, the north-west and central regions, which are critical to kharif crop production, have received 10% and 4% less rain, respectively. The eastern and north-eastern regions have received 12% less rainfall than normal.
The IMD predicted widespread rainfall over the next three days, with the exception of the north-west and eastern peninsulas. This will likely improve storage, as the IMD predicts above-average rainfall this month.
According to CWC’s weekly reservoir status report, storage in the southern region increased to 34% (28%) of the 53.334 BCM capacity, or 17.965 BCM. However, except for Kerala (13% above normal) and Karnataka (25% above normal), the levels in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana are lower than usual.
Karnataka Benefits
One notable feature is that the situation in Karnataka is better than last year (51% capacity vs 20%). The Kabini is filled to 91% capacity, Hemavathy 74%, Harangi and Almatti 75% each, and Krishnaraja Sagara 66%.
Of the 42 reservoirs in the southern region, 26 have levels that are less than 50% of capacity. All ten reservoirs in the northern region are filled to less than 50% capacity. However, there are no concerns about kharif crops because these states benefit greatly from canal irrigation.
The level was 29% (30%), or 5.781 BCM, of the 19.663 BCM capacity. In Punjab, the level is 56% lower than usual, while in Himachal and Rajasthan, it is 22% and 26% lower, respectively.
Storage in the central region’s 26 reservoirs, which have a capacity of 48.227 BCM, was 28% at 13.445 BCM. The level in 20 of the reservoirs was less than 40% of capacity. Except for Uttarakhand, all three states had storage levels below normal.
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Warning by IMD
The level was 21% lower than usual in Madhya Pradesh, 42% below normal in Chhattisgarh, and 20% lower than normal in Uttar Pradesh. However, the IMD has issued a warning for “very heavy rainfall” in parts of Madhya Pradesh over the next few days.
Of the 49 reservoirs in the western region, 33 were below 40% capacity, and 11 were below 50%. The region’s storage capacity was 11.330 BCM, or 31% of the total capacity of 37.130 BCM.
The eastern region’s 23 reservoirs were at 4.201 BCM, or 21% of their capacity of 20.430 BCM. The level in 15 of them was less than 40%. The level was 61% below normal in Bihar, 45% lower than usual in West Bengal, and 38% lower in Odisha.
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