The water level in over 80 per cent of India’s 161 major reservoirs dropped below 50 per cent this week, while the overall storage in the dams was below 35 per cent, data from the Central Water Commission (CWC) showed.

According to CWC’s weekly bulletin on the status in the 161 reservoirs, the level dropped to 33.36 per cent of 60.685 billion cubic metres (BCM) of the total capacity of 182.444 BCM . Interestingly, Tamil Nadu’s reservoirs boasted the best storage of 64.36 per cent. 

Of the 161 reservoirs, the storage in 105 dropped below 40 per cent and in another 26 it was below 40 per cent. The overall level is, however, higher than last year and the normal level (last 10 years).

Monsoon holds the key

With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting an above normal temperature in May, the level will likely decline further — an usual phenomenon. However, if the South-West monsoon sets in on time, then the levels will begin improving from June onwards.

The central and western region had better storage compared to the other three this week. Among the three, the level in  northern and eastern regions were below 30 per cent, while in the southern region it was 30.36 per cent. However, the storage improved a tad in the northern region this week. 

The level in the 11 reservoirs of the northern region was up at 4.727 BCM against 4.707 BCM last week. The capacity in the region is 19.836 BCM and the dams were filled to 23.83 per cent. The storage in Himachal was down to 16 per cent, but it was 30 per cent each in Rajasthan and Punjab. 

Of the 27 reservoirs in the eastern region, the storage was 29.33 per cent of the 21.724 BCM at 6.371 BCM. Tripura’s lone reservoir was filled to 65 per cent and Meghalaya’s 53 per cent. The storage in the rest of the States in the region was below 50 per cent. 

The 28 dams in the central region were filled to 39.11 per cent or 19.004 BCM of the 48.588 BCM capacity. Barring  Madhya Pradesh, where the level was 43.67 per cent, the storage in the rest of the States was below 40 per cent. 

In the 50 reservoirs of the western region, the level was 37.21 per cent of the 37.357 BCM capacity at 13.901 BCM. Goa  and Gujarat had over 40 per cent storage but in Maharashtra, the storage was 26.23 per cent.

South well-off

The 45 reservoirs of the southern region were filled to 30 per cent of the 54.939 BCM capacity at 16.682 BCM. The storage in Kerala dam’s was 35 per cent but in the rest of the States in the region, it was below 30 per cent. 

The storage will likely continue to drop under the monsoon sets in. The normal date for the onset of the monsoon is June 1. 

Published on May 1, 2025