Water Stock in Dams and Reservoirs Drops Below 50 Percent

24-Apr-2026 11:02 AM

New Delhi. The latest data from the Central Water Commission reveals that the water stock in the country's 166 major dams and reservoirs has declined to just above 40 percent—falling below the 50 percent mark—relative to their total storage capacity.

These reservoirs currently hold a water stock of only 74.999 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM), which constitutes a mere 40.86 percent of their total storage capacity of 183.565 BCM. Nevertheless, this water stock remains 14.7 percentage points higher than that of the corresponding period last year, and 26.1 percentage points above the ten-year average.

Of these 166 reservoirs, the water level in 110 has fallen below 50 percent; furthermore, in 78 of these reservoirs, the level is less than 40 percent. Only 10 dams retain a water stock of 80 percent or more.

According to the Meteorological Department, between March 1 and April 22, 34 percent of the country's 725 districts received either no rainfall or negligible precipitation, while temperatures continued to rise steadily. This situation could deteriorate further.