Water levels in reservoirs still low, down 22% on year

Reservoir levels have been dropping for the 35 weeks in row till June 6 because of deficient monsoon last season, scanty rainfall in winter months and prolonged heatwaves in several parts of the country.

Water levels in the country’s 150 major reservoirs on Thursday stood at 22% below the previous year’s level and 15% below 10-year average, against 21% a week ago, despite revival of monsoon rains in the last one week, reports Sandip Das. However surplus monsoon rains of 16% more than the benchmark long period average so far in the southern peninsula has led to marginal improvement in water reservoirs in southern states. As many as 42 southern dams currently have 16% capacity filled as against 14% a fortnight ago, as per the Central Water Commission (CWC).

Reservoir levels have been dropping for the 35 weeks in row till June 6 because of deficient monsoon last season, scanty rainfall in winter months and prolonged heatwaves in several parts of the country.

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Officials said the progress of monsoon in the next two weeks is expected to boost water tables in dams across all regions. The India Meteorological Department on Thursday predicted ‘heavy to very heavy rainfall very likely along the west peninsular coast during next five days and rainfall activity is likely to increase over Northwest India from Thursday with heavy to very heavy rainfall over the plains of northwest India during June 28-30.