Water levels in dams and reservoirs drop to 67 percent

06-Feb-2026 12:31 PM

New Delhi: The water stock in dams and reservoirs across the country has fallen to only 67 percent of their total storage capacity, while water levels in all five regions of the country have dropped below 80 percent.

The Meteorological Department has predicted less rainfall and higher temperatures in February, which could lead to a further decline in water levels. In South India, the water level has fallen even below last year's level.

According to a new report by the Central Water Commission, the 166 major reservoirs in the country currently hold 122.313 billion cubic meters (BCM) of water, which is 66.63 percent of their total storage capacity of 183.565 BCM.

However, this water stock is 8.5 percentage points higher than the same period last year and 25 percentage points higher than the 10-year average. Currently, there is sufficient water stock available for irrigating Rabi crops.

Four reservoirs in the country are currently completely full, while 53 other dams have more than 80 percent of their capacity filled. However, the water level in the remaining 109 reservoirs has dropped significantly.

Data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) shows that 71 percent of the 727 districts from which data is collected have experienced a rainfall deficit since the beginning of the year.

Nationally, rainfall between January 1 and February 5, 2026, was 31 percent below the normal average, leading to a continuous decline in water levels in dams and reservoirs.