The overall water storage in the major reservoirs and river basins in the country has dropped less than the average storage recorded in a decade for the corresponding period, according to data released by the Central Water Commission (CWC). 

CWC’s weekly update released on April 18, 2024 showed that except for central and eastern India, all the other regions – northern, western and southern – show water levels less than the average of the last 10 years for the corresponding period.

CWC, which monitors 150 major reservoirs across the country, has recorded a live storage of 56.085 billion cubic metres (BCM), which is 31 per cent of the total live storage capacity of these reservoirs. Last week, the total live storage was 33 per cent.

The live storage in the first week of April was 35 per cent. Last year, it was 67.57 BCM for the corresponding period. 
 

The situation is worrisome, especially in the southern states such as Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, which have a combined live storage of 9.31 BCM.

The live storage was nearly half at 17 per cent of its total live storage capacity in 42 reservoirs, which was about 30 per cent last year during this period.

In the western states such as Maharasthra and Gujarat, live storage is about 33.9 per cent of the capacity in the 49 reservoirs, CWC recorded. In the northern states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, live storage was 32.5 per cent in 10 reservoirs. 

In the 23 reservoirs scattered across the eastern states of Assam, Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Tripura, Bihar and Nagaland, live storage was 40.6 per cent. Last year, the storage was 35 per cent in this period.

In as many as 26 reservoirs in the central region across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand, the live storage stands at 40 per cent compared to 44 per cent for the corresponding time last year. However, it is higher than the average storage for the last 10 years which is recorded at 37 per cent. 

The situation is extremely critical in the river basins of the southern and eastern regions, where the east-flowing rivers between Pennar and Kanyakumari, Cauvery and west-flowing rivers from Tadri to Kanyakumari are deficient in their water storage.

The east-flowing rivers between Mahanadi and Pennar are highly deficient in water storage. These rivers have gone 100 per cent deficient compared to the average storage in 10 years, which is 19 per cent. They have no water storage this year.

In the Pennar river basin, the water levels are at 1.35 per cent of its total capacity, a deficit of over 96 per cent of the decade’s average storage. 

CWC calls a reservoir ‘deficient’ if the storage shortfall is more than 20 per cent of the normal and ‘highly deficient’ if the shortfall exceeds 60 per cent. ‘Normal’ storage is defined as the average storage of water in the past 10 years. 

About 13 major rivers such as Rushikulya, Bahuda, Vamsadhara, Nagavali, Sarada, Varaha, Tandava, Eluru, Gundlakamma, Tammileru, Musi, Paleru and Munneru are now showing a declining water storage trend. These rivers cover a landscape of 86,643 square kilometres, providing irrigation water to at least 60 per cent of the total area.

River basins and reservoirs provide water for irrigation, annual drinking water needs and operating hydro-electricity power projects.

The reason for the massive decline in water storage is the rainfall deficit in these reservoir catchment areas. 

Since March, several India Meteorological Department sub-divisions recorded rainfall deficits. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, for instance, recorded 96 per cent deficit; Konkan and Goa stations showed 92 per cent deficit in rainfall. A deficit was also recorded in Aruncachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab and West Rajasthan. 

About 53 reservoirs, incuding Umrong, Kandong, Gumti, Jawai dam, Surya, Barvi, Mula, Bhandardara, Khadakwasla, Dhom, Bhatsa, Manikdoh, Upper Tapi, Urmodi, Bhatghar, Nira Deighar, Thokarwadi, Kanher, Tillari, Mulshi, Dhumbhe Veer, Chaskaman, Panshet, Bhama Askhed, Darna, Yeleru, Donkarayi, Sriram Sagar, Lower Manair and others have close to zero water storage. 

The situation is likely to aggravate with states such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana already facing water shortages.