The storage in 155 major reservoir in the country dropped further this week to 75 per cent of the capacity with the intensity of the North-East monsoon easing over the past few days.
Data from the Central Water Commission (CWC) showed that the level was 135.404 billion cubic metres (BCM) as of Thursday against the 180.852 BCM capacity. The storage is 124 per cent of last year’s level and 199 per cent of normal (last 10 years storage).
The CWC weekly bulletin on the live storage status of the 155 reservoirs showed the level dropping in all five regions with the situation in the northern region raising concern. The level in the region dropped to 46 per cent of the 19.836 BCM at 9.151 BCM.
Overall 10 reservoirs are full (down from 13 last week), while the level in 19 is below 50 per cent (18 last week).
62% rainfall deficiency
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), data show that post-monsoon rainfall was deficient in 62 per cent of the 721 districts between October 1 and December 15.
The lower post-monsoon rainfall has reflected in rabi sowing with the overall area under all crops declining to 590.82 lakh hectares (lh) as of December 20, a tad lower from 590.97 lh a year ago. In particular, November witnessed higher than normal temperatures.
The storage in the northern region dropped to 44 per cent of the 19.836 BCM capacity at 9.151 BCM. The level in Punjab’s lone reservoir dipped to 22 per cent of the capacity, while it slipped to 39 per cent in Himachal. Rajasthan seven reservoirs were filled to 75 per cent.
In the eastern region, the storage was 14.436 BCM or 69.41 per cent of the 20.798 BCM capacity. Tripura storage was 86 per cent, Jharkhand’s 75 per cent, West Bengal’s 74 per cent and in Odisha and Assam 70 per cent each. The lone reservoir’s storage in Bihar was 33 per cent, while the level in Nagaland was 52 per cent.
More drop likely
The western region had the best storage with the level in the 50 reservoirs being 86 per cent of the capacity. Of the 37.357 BCM capacity, the storage was 32.127 BCM. Goa’s sole reservoir was full, while the level in Maharashtra and Gujarat was 89 per cent and 83 per cent, respectively.
In the 26 reservoirs of the western region, the level was 76 per cent of the 48.227 BCM capacity at 36.855 BCM. Madhya Pradesh had the highest level at 81 per cent, while it was 63 per cent in Uttar Pradesh. In Uttarakhand and Chattisgarh, the storage was 74 per cent and 67 per cent, respectively.
In the southern region, the 43 reservoirs were filled to 78 per cent of the 54.634 BCM capacity at 42.835 BCM. The level in Tamil Nadu and Telangana was 96 per cent each, while it 82 per cent in Andhra Pradesh. The storage in Karnataka and Kerala was 78 per cent and 76 per cent, respectively.
The storage will likely decline in the coming weeks with the North-East monsoon drawing to a close and not much rainfall activity forecast over the next week.
