More Stories

Informist, Thursday, Mar. 20, 2025

--Central Water Commission: Key reservoir level 80.700 bcm as of Thursday 

--Central Water Commission: Key reservoir level 45% of total live capacity 

--Central Water Commission: Water level in reservoirs up 18% YoY as of Thu 

--Central Water Commission: Water level in reservoirs up 15% from 10-yr avg 

MUMBAI – The water level in 155 key reservoirs in the country as of Thursday fell by 5.5% on week to 80.700 billion cubic metres as from 85.373 billion cubic metres on Mar. 13, according to data from the Central Water Commission. The current level is 45% of the total live storage capacity of 180.852 billion cubic metres.

The lower water levels can be attributed to continous heat waves last week, mostly over parts of Gujarat, interior Maharashtra, Odisha, Jharkhand, Vidarbha, and north Telangana. However, a steep fall in water levels was prevented as rainfall activity picked up. India received an average rainfall of 6.8 millimetres in the week ended Wednesday, 3% above the normal of 6.6 millimetres for the week, with two regions – east and northest and south peninsular India – recieving above-normal rain, the India Meteorological Department said.

The water level as of Thursday was up 18% from a year ago and 15% higher than the normal storage for the period, which is the average storage for the last 10 years, according to the data.

Storage in reservoirs fell in all regions across the country from last week. In the northern region, the water level in reservoirs fell to a three-year low to 5.044 billion cubic metres, which is 25% of the total live storage capacity. In the same period last year, the water level was 33% of the live storage capacity. The northern region includes Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab.

In the eastern region, the water level in reservoirs was 9.083 billion cubic metres, 44% of the total live storage capacity, lower than 49% in the corresponding period last year. The eastern region includes Assam, Jharkhand, Odisha, Tripura, Nagaland, West Bengal, and Bihar.

The water level in the western region was 20.417 billion cubic metres or 55% of the total live storage capacity of 50 reservoirs in the region, against 45% last year. None of the 50 reservoirs in the region were full, or at 91-99% of the total live capacity. Eight reservoirs in the western region had water levels below 40% of the storage capacity. The western region includes Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa.

In the central region, which includes Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Chhattisgarh, the water level in reservoirs was 23.498 billion cubic metres. As of Thursday, the water level was 49% of the total live storage capacity, compared to 46% a year ago.

The water level in the southern region was at 22.658 billion cubic metres, 41% of the total live storage capacity of 43 reservoirs in the region, the data showed. At this time last year, the water level in the region was just 23% of the total live storage capacity. In the southern region, two reservoirs were at 91-99% of the total storage capacity, while 17 reservoirs had water at or below 40% of the storage capacity.

Since Mar. 1, the country has received 24% below normal rainfall at 14.4 mm, according to the India Meteorological Department.  End

Reported by Shreya Shetty

Edited by Vandana Hingorani

For users of real-time market data terminals, Informist news is available exclusively on the NSE Cogencis WorkStation.

Cogencis news is now Informist news. This follows the acquisition of Cogencis Information Services Ltd by NSE Data & Analytics Ltd, a 100% subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. As a part of the transaction, the news department of Cogencis has been sold to Informist Media Pvt Ltd.

Informist Media Tel +91 (22) 6985-4000

Send comments to feedback@informistmedia.com

© Informist Media Pvt. Ltd. 2025. All rights reserved.