Central Water Commission Reports Reservoir Storage Above 60% in Four of Five Indian Regions

Storage levels across four of the five regions in India topped 60 per cent this week, according to data released by the Central Water Commission. The overall water storage level in the country improved to 68 per cent.

Despite the regional improvements, data shows that 35 per cent of the 166 major reservoirs in the country remain half-empty. Total water storage in major reservoirs increased to 125.299 billion cubic metres (BCM), out of a total capacity of 183.565 BCM. Current levels are reported to be 18 percentage points lower compared to the same period a year ago, and roughly four percentage points lower than normal levels.

Regional distribution shows varied outcomes. Eight reservoirs have reached full capacity, with five of them located in Maharashtra. Additionally, water levels in 40 reservoirs currently exceed 80 per cent capacity. Conversely, the South remains the only region among the five where storage is currently lower than 60 per cent of total capacity.

The Central Water Commission data notes that overall storage has been impacted this year by a deficient South-West monsoon. As of August 17, the recorded rain deficit stood at 13 per cent. With forecasts indicating a likely pause in the monsoon and a strengthening El Nino, water storage levels may face continued pressure in the coming period.

"Water resource management is a critical factor for agricultural stability and industrial supply chains across India. While overall storage levels show recovery in several regions, the deficits observed in the South and the ongoing risks from a weakened monsoon require businesses, particularly in the agri-tech and manufacturing sectors, to factor resource availability into their operational planning." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes