Storage levels in major Indian reservoirs rise for second consecutive week

Storage in India’s 150 major reservoirs is increasing for the second consecutive week as the south-west monsoon has been above normal so far this month.

After an 11 per cent deficiency in June, the monsoon deficiency has reduced to 2 per cent as of July 11. Although the intensity of the monsoon has reduced in the last few days, it is expected to increase in pace over the next few days, especially over central and northwest India.

In line with monsoon coverage, storage improved in some states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Maharashtra this week. However, it declined in Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand – all major kharif crop growing states.

112 below 40%

The Central Water Commission (CWC) in its weekly bulletin on live storage position of 150 reservoirs in the country said the level rose by 26 per cent (22 per cent last week) to 46.311 bcm of the 178.784 billion cubic meter (bcm) capacity. ,

Of these 150, storage levels in 131 remain below 50 per cent of capacity compared to 136 last week, while in 112 (126 last week) storage is below 40 per cent. Storage conditions have improved in all five areas this week.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), data received from 724 districts shows that 36 per cent (38 per cent) of them are still rain deficient. However, rainfall deficiency has reduced to five per cent in the east and north-eastern region and seven per cent in the central region.

It is one percent more in the north-west region and nine percent more in the southern region. Despite this, the reservoir level in Andhra Pradesh is 77 percent (76 percent) below normal, while in Telangana it is 17 percent (five percent) below normal.

Rapid change in Karnataka

The situation in Tamil Nadu has improved to 30 percent (40 percent) less than normal. Levels in Karnataka improved sharply to 12 per cent from 15 per cent below normal last week, while storage in Kerala was 13 per cent (26 per cent) above normal.

Overall, across the region’s 42 reservoirs, levels stood at 13.767 bcm, 26 per cent (19 per cent) of the 53.334 bcm capacity, while Andhra’s reservoirs were filled to only six per cent of capacity.

Storage in all 10 reservoirs in the northern region was less than 50 per cent of the capacity of 19.663 BCM. Storage this week was 5.979 BCM or 30. In Punjab, storage was 42 per cent (35 per cent) below normal, while in Rajasthan it was 21 per cent (20 per cent) below normal.

In 23 reservoirs in the Eastern Region, storage was 4.132 BCM, 20 per cent (19 per cent) of the capacity of 20.430 BCM. Reservoir levels in West Bengal were 41 per cent (38 per cent) below normal, while in Odisha it was 25 per cent (22 per cent) below normal.

Kharif sowing is taking place

In the western region, levels in 49 reservoirs rose 25 per cent to 9.398 bcm of the 37.130 bcm capacity. While the storage in Gujarat has gone from 12 per cent above normal to 1 per cent less, in Maharashtra it is 11 per cent (14 per cent) below normal.

The storage in 26 reservoirs in the Central region was 13.035 BCM, 27 per cent (25 per cent) of the capacity of 48.227 BCM.

If storage levels continue to improve and south-west monsoon remains above normal, it will help in kharif sowing. As of July 5, total acreage was 14 percent higher.