Over 80 per cent of India’s 161 major reservoirs turned half empty this week, while the level in 70 per cent of them was below 40 per cent of the capacity, data from the Central Water Commission (CWC) showed. However, the storage was higher than last year and normal (past 10 years). 

According to CWC’s weekly bulletin on storage in the major reservoirs, the level was 30.41 per cent of the 182.444 billion cubic metres (BCM) capacity at 55.486 BCM. Last year, the storage was 46.604 BCM and the normal was 48.133 BCM. 

The storage in northern, eastern and southern regions dropped below 30 per cent, while it was below 35 per cent in central and western regions.

Rajasthan better

In the 11 reservoirs of the northern region, the level was 28.79 per cent of the 19.826 BCM capacity at 5.710 BCM. Rajasthan’s dams were filled over 50 per cent, but in Himachal, the level was 16.7 per cent and in Punjab, 38.82 per cent. 

The storage in the 27 reservoirs of the eastern region dropped to 5.732 BCM or 26.39 per cent of the 21.724 BCM capacity. Assam, Jharkhand and Meghalaya had over 40 per cent storage, while Bihar and Mizoram were filled to less than 20 per cent.

The 50 reservoirs in the western region were filled to 33 per cent of the 37.357 BCM capacity at 12.344 BCM. The level in Maharashtra was 28 per cent, while it was 40.5 per cent in Goa and 38 per cent in Gujarat. 

Tamil Nadu tops

In the central region, the level in the 28 dams was 34.45 per cent of the 48.588 BCM at 16.737 BCM. The storage in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh was over 30 per cent, while it was 25.5 per cent in Chhattisgarh and lower than 20 per cent in Uttarakhand.

Tamil Nadu continued to boast of the best storage in the country with its dams filled to 63 per cent, even as the level in the 45 reservoirs of the southern region was 27.23 per cent or 14.962 BCM of the 54.939 BCM capacity. The storage in the remaining States was lower than 30 per cent. 

With the monsoon slated to set in on May 27 and pre-monsoon showers lashing some parts of the country, the storage will likely improve in a month’s time. 

Published on May 15, 2025