Slight decline in water reserves in dams and reservoirs

11-Oct-2024 01:38 PM

New Delhi. Due to lack of rainfall in about 70 percent of the country during the current month, the water reserves in dams and reservoirs of five states have decreased to below normal levels.

According to the latest data of the Central Water Commission, the water level at the national level has decreased by 1 percentage point during the current week as compared to the previous week.

The total storage capacity of water in 155 major reservoirs of the country is 180.852 billion cubic meters (BCM), while the actual water reserves in it are 157.267 BCM or 87 percent.

This reserve is not only more than last year but also more than the 10-year average level. The water level decreased in the northern region of the country, while in the remaining areas it remained stable at the old level.

The water level has come below normal in five states of the country. Under this, 64 percent less water was recorded in Punjab, 24 percent in Himachal Pradesh, 4-4 percent in Kerala and Nagaland and 3 percent less water in Rajasthan.

More than 80 percent of the water is stored in 103 reservoirs of the country, which will facilitate irrigation of Rabi crops.

According to the Meteorological Department, out of the 723 districts of the country from which data is collected, 17 percent of the districts have not received any rainfall since October 1, while the remaining 57 percent districts have recorded less or very less rainfall than normal.

As a result, the water level in the reservoirs has come down a bit. Although during the southwest monsoon season, the country received 8 percent surplus rainfall, due to which the water level in dams and reservoirs increased considerably, but now there is a shortage of rain because the monsoon has departed from the northern region.

The sowing campaign for Rabi crops is going to start soon. There is still sufficient moisture in the fields, so farmers will not face any difficulty in starting early sowing of crops.