Water levels dip to 23% in major reservoirs across country

With the water level in major reservoirs across the country plunged to 23% of the total capacity, the Centre has decided to bring a new law aimed at proper storage as well as its efficient management of valuable resources.

According to the Water Resources Ministry, 35.839 billion cubic metre (BCM) of stock was available in 91 major reservoirs for the week ending April 13 out of a total capacity of 157.799 BCM.

The levels are 33% less than the stock available during the corresponding period last year, the ministry said. The stock is 23% less than the 10-year average storage levels for the same period.

Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, West Bengal, Odisha, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala have reported lower levels of water in major reservoirs compared to the previous year.

The Southern region states mainly Karnataka, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu reported lowest storage. Of the total 31 reservoirs, monitored by the CWC in these states, the current live storage is 7.55 BCM against the total live storage capacity of 51.59 BCM.

This means the current total live storage available in these reservoirs is 15% of total live storage capacity of these reservoirs.

The storage during corresponding period of last year was 24% and average storage of last 10 years during corresponding period was 25% of live storage capacity of these reservoirs.

Thus, storage during current year is less than the corresponding period of last year and is also less than the average storage of last ten years during the corresponding period.

Concerned over depleting water in reservoirs, Union Water Resources Secretary Shashi Shekar said the government will come out soon with a model Bill which will lay down guidelines for states on efficient management of the valuable resource by ensuring its storage.

The Bill is being drafted taking into account opinions of various stakeholders and it is likely to be finalised by May 15. This is a framework law. It is not mandatory for states to adhere to it. Water being a state subject, states follow their own laws, he said.