India is facing mounting water stress as reservoir levels across the country fall below the decade-long average, with southern India holding just half its storage capacity as the southwest monsoon prepares to withdraw.
The latest Central Water Commission data show that water storage in 178 major reservoirs stands at 70 per cent of combined capacity, below the 10-year average of 76.62 per cent and last year’s level of 79 per cent. The report, dated September 24, comes amid drought declarations in Maharashtra and Karnataka, raising concerns over water availability for irrigation, drinking water and hydropower generation in the months ahead. The southwest monsoon, which accounts for more than 70 per cent of India’s annual rainfall, plays a key role in replenishing reservoirs that support agriculture, drinking water and electricity generation.
Southern India, covering Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, has recorded the sharpest decline in reservoir storage. Water levels in the region’s reservoirs stand at just 50 per cent of total capacity, holding 27.926 billion cubic metres of water, a steep fall from 87.25 per cent during the same period last year. The region has also received 23 per cent below-normal rainfall, according to India Meteorological Department data as of September 28. The Central Water Commission report highlighted uneven water availability across 92 reservoirs in southern, eastern and northern India, despite the monsoon’s final rainfall spells.
In Gujarat, 109 of the state’s 206 dams are holding less than half their storage capacity, according to State Emergency Operations Centre data released on Monday. Of these, 73 dams are below 25 per cent capacity and 36 are between 25 and 50 per cent full, while 28 dams are between 50 and 70 per cent capacity and 32 are completely full. Gujarat’s combined reservoir storage stands at 4,00,946 million cubic feet, or 71.87 per cent of total capacity. The Sardar Sarovar reservoir, however, remains relatively well-stocked at 99.39 per cent capacity, supporting irrigation across 1.85 million hectares in Gujarat and 0.24 million hectares in Rajasthan, besides supplying drinking water to around three crore people.
Reservoirs in eastern India hold 16.157 billion cubic metres, or 73 per cent of combined capacity. While Odisha and parts of West Bengal have received adequate rainfall, several eastern and northeastern states have recorded seasonal deficits of around 25 per cent. With the monsoon season ending on September 30, the below-average reservoir stocks have raised concerns over water availability during the dry months ahead, particularly in regions already facing rainfall shortages.
(Source: India Today)
