Water level in dams and reservoirs increased after 28 weeks
30-May-2025 11:07 AM
New Delhi. The latest weekly bulletin from the Central Water Commission reveals that after a continuous decline over 28 weeks, water levels in 161 major dams and reservoirs across India have finally begun to rise.
This improvement is attributed to good pre-monsoon rainfall and the early onset of the southwest monsoon. According to the report, the total storage capacity of these dams is 182.444 billion cubic meters (BCM),
out of which 55.334 BCM, or 30.33 percent, is currently filled. This marks an increase from the previous week's level of 29.37 percent. With the ongoing progress of the monsoon, further improvement in water storage is expected.
The bulletin highlights that water levels have risen in four regions of the country over the past week. However, in the eastern region, levels have dropped below 25 percent.
Nationally, the number of reservoirs with at least 40 percent storage has increased from last week's count, with several now reaching nearly 50 percent capacity. This improvement is crucial for ensuring sufficient water supply for irrigating Kharif crops.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast above-normal rainfall for June, which is expected to further boost water availability.
The southwest monsoon arrived in Kerala on 24 May, eight days earlier than the typical onset date of 1 June. The last early onset of the monsoon was on 23 May in 2009. Consistent rainfall has been recorded in the southern and west-central regions, helping raise water levels in reservoirs and lakes.
In the northern region, water storage across 11 major reservoirs stands at 5.811 BCM, or 29.30 percent of the total capacity of 19.836 BCM.
This is slightly below last year’s level. Storage levels vary across states, with Punjab at 42.15 percent, Rajasthan at 52.72 percent, and Himachal Pradesh lagging at just 17.26 percent.
As monsoon activity is expected to increase in this region during June, a notable improvement in reservoir levels is anticipated.