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Informist, Wednesday, Jul. 9, 2025

 

--Central Water Commission: Key reservoir level 78.381 bcm as of Thursday

--Central Water Commission: Key reservoir level 43% of total live capacity

--Central Water Commission: Water level in reservoirs up 89.2% YoY as of Thu

--Central Water Commission: Water level in reservoirs up 75% from 10-yr avg

 

By Shreya Shetty

 

MUMBAI – Above-normal rainfall so far during the southwest monsoon has boosted water levels in key reservoirs in India. The water level in 161 key reservoirs rose sharply over 89% on year to 78.381 billion cubic metres as of Thursday, according to data from the Central Water Commission.

 

The water levels rose 18% from the previous week's level of 66.449 billion cubic metres, the data showed. According to data collated by Informist, the current water level in key reservoirs is at a six-year-high. The water level as of Thursday was 75.23?ove the 10-year average for this period. The current water level is 42.96% of the total live storage capacity of 182.444 billion cubic metres.

 

Following its initial advance across the northeast and south India, the monsoon stalled from May 29 to Jun. 15, which led to deficit rainfall across the country during the first fortnight of June. However, it re-entered its active phase by Jun. 16, and eventually made up for its deficit in the second half of the month, replenishing the water levels in reservoirs across the country. During the last week of June, the country received 64.3 millimetres of rainfall, 19?ove the normal of 53.9 millimetres. 

 

In June, the country received 180 millimetres of rainfall, which was 9?ove normal, according to data from the India Meteorological Department. In June 2024, rainfall was 11?low normal at 146.6 millimetres.

 

Of the 161 reservoirs, five reservoirs were at full capacity, up from three reservoirs a week ago, the data from the Central Water Commission showed. The number of reservoirs with water levels of 40% and below fell to 61 from 77 in the previous week.

 

The early onset of the monsoon and the replenishment of the water reservoirs has aided in the sowing of kharif crops across the country. The kharif crop acreage as of Friday stood at 43.7 million hectares, up more than 11% from 39.4 million hectares a year ago, data from the agriculture ministry showed. A boost in water levels in reservoirs also helps shape a positive outlook for rabi sowing, as crops during the season are dependent heavily on irrigation.

 

In its monthly weather outlook, the weather department has forecast above-normal rainfall for the country in July at over 106% of the long-period average.

 

In the northern region, the water level in reservoirs was 7.393 billion cubic metres, which is 37.27% of the total live storage capacity. This was higher than 27.35% held by the reservoirs in the same period a year ago. The northern region comprises Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab.

 

The water levels in the reservoirs in the eastern region stood at 8.447 billion cubic metres, or 38.88% of the total live storage capacity, higher than 22.54% last year. The eastern region includes Assam, Jharkhand, Odisha, Tripura, Nagaland, West Bengal, and Bihar.

 

In the western region, which comprises Goa, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, water levels stood at 16.693 billion cubic metres as of Thursday. The water level was 44.69% of the total live storage capacity, compared with 21.70% a year ago. 

 

Reservoirs in the central region held 16.115 billion cubic metres or 33.17% of the total live storage capacity of 28 reservoirs in the region, up from 25.41% a year ago. The region comprises Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Chhattisgarh.

 

The water level in the reservoirs in the southern region was 29.734 billion cubic metres, which is a six-year-high level. As of Thursday, the water level was 54.12% of the total live storage capacity of the 45 reservoirs in the region. This region includes Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. At this time last year, the water level was just 19.39% of the total live storage capacity, much lower than the current level.  End

 

Edited by Ashish Shirke

 

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