Rising Water Reservoir Levels Across India, But Northern Region Faces Shortfall

Reservoirs across India have shown significant improvement in water-storage levels compared to last year, with the overall storage reaching 72% of capacity. However, regions in the north are experiencing below-normal storage, potentially impacting water availability. The Central Water Commission's report highlights these regional variations and their implications.

Reservoirs across India have shown significant improvement in water-storage levels compared to last year, according to data from the Central Water Commission (CWC). The latest report reveals that the live storage available in 155 major reservoirs stands at 130.800 billion cubic metres (BCM), or 72% of the total live storage capacity.

However, the report highlights that certain areas, particularly in the northern region, are facing lower-than-normal storage levels. This could impact water availability in the coming months, as reservoirs in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan hold only 53% of their capacity, a significant drop from last year's 84%.

Conversely, the southern region, which includes states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, shows improvement with reservoirs at 80% capacity, up from 52% last year. Similarly, the western and eastern regions have also reported better storage levels, indicating a positive trend for water availability in agriculture, hydroelectric power generation, and drinking water supply.

(With inputs from agencies.)