Water Woes Ease for Agriculture as Reservoir Storage Climbs

06-Jun-2025 04:00 PM

New Delhi. Data from the Central Water Commission shows that the water level in 161 major dams and reservoirs across the country increased for the second consecutive week, reaching 31.13 percent of their total storage capacity. According to the commission’s weekly bulletin, these dams have a combined storage capacity of 182.444 billion cubic meters (BCM), of which 56.802 BCM is currently filled. Last week, the water level was 30.33 percent. Before this, water reserves had been declining for 28 straight weeks.

The current level is 38 percent higher than the same period last year and 29 percent above the 10-year average. The southwest monsoon season has begun, and the Meteorological Department has predicted good rainfall this year, which could further raise water levels in the coming weeks. This is expected to benefit Kharif crop sowing, irrigation, and also alleviate drinking water shortages.

Last week, 104 reservoirs had less than 40 percent of their total capacity filled, a number that has now dropped to 101. However, 77 percent of all reservoirs still have less than 50 percent of their capacity filled. Notably, water levels have improved in the reservoirs of the southern and eastern regions, while those in the central, northern, and western zones have continued to decline. This difference is attributed to heavy rainfall in the southern peninsula and northeastern states, while the monsoon is yet to reach the northern and northwestern regions.

In the northern region, 11 reservoirs have a total storage capacity of 19.836 BCM, of which only 5.766 BCM (29.07 percent) is currently filled. Region-wise, storage stands at 42.15 percent in Punjab, 52.38 percent in Rajasthan, and 17.23 percent in Himachal Pradesh.