Water levels up in big reservoirs across country

The water storage level in 91 major reservoirs of the country for the week ending on July 26, 2018, rose to 63.333 billion cubic metre (BCM), which is 41% of the total storage capacity of these reservoirs.

The total storage capacity of these 91 reservoirs is 161.993 BCM which is about 63% of the total storage capacity of 257.812 BCM, estimated to have been created in the country.

As many as 37 reservoirs have hydropower generation facility with an installed capacity of more than 60 MW, according to a statement by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.

Western region

In the western region, including states like Gujarat and Maharashtra, 27 reservoirs are being monitored by the CWC having a total live storage capacity of 31.26 BCM.

The total live storage available in these reservoirs is 10.20 BCM, which is 33% of the total live storage capacity of these reservoirs. The storage during the corresponding period last year was 39% and average storage in the last 10 years during the corresponding period was 32% of the live storage capacity of these reservoirs.

Southern region

In the southern region, including states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, AP&TG (Two combined projects in both states), Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, there are 31 reservoirs under CWC having a total live storage capacity of 51.59 BCM.

The total live storage available in these reservoirs is 29.79 BCM, which is 58% of the total live storage capacity of these reservoirs. The storage during the corresponding period of last year was 25% and average storage of the last 10 years during the corresponding period was 35% of the live storage capacity of these reservoirs. Thus, storage during the current year is better than the corresponding period of last year and is also better than the average storage of the last 10 years during the corresponding period.

Northern region

In the northern region, including states like Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan, there are six reservoirs under CWC having a total live storage capacity of 18.01 BCM.

The total live storage available in these reservoirs is 4.66 BCM which is 26% of the total live storage capacity of these reservoirs. The storage during the corresponding period last year was 52% and average storage of the last 10 years during the corresponding period was 45% of the live storage capacity of these reservoirs.

Thus, storage during the current year is less than the corresponding period of last year and is also less than the average storage of the last 10 years during the corresponding period.

Eastern region

In the eastern region, including states of Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Tripura, there are 15 reservoirs under CWC having a total live storage capacity of 18.83 BCM. The total live storage available in these reservoirs is 7.11 BCM which is 38% of the total live storage capacity of these reservoirs.

The storage during the corresponding period last year was 42% and average storage of the last 10 years during the corresponding period was 31% of the live storage capacity of these reservoirs.

Thus, storage during the current year is less than the corresponding period last year but is better than the average storage of the last 10 years during the corresponding period.

Central region

In the central region, including states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, there are 12 reservoirs under CWC monitoring having a total live storage capacity of 42.30 BCM.

The total live storage available in these reservoirs is 14.58 BCM, which is 34% of the total live storage capacity of these reservoirs. The storage during the corresponding period last year was 39% and average storage of the last 10 years during the corresponding period was 36% of the live storage capacity of these reservoirs.

Thus, storage during the current year is less than the storage of last year and is also less than the average storage of the last 10 years during the corresponding period.