Reservoir water levels dip more

With several states facing drought conditions, the water level in 91 major reservoirs across the country has further dipped to 16 per cent of their total capacity, the government said on Friday. The percentage was at 17 about a fortnight ago when the Centre released the figures on May 27.

According to Union water resources ministry, 24.85 billion cubic metre (BCM) of water was available in these 91 reservoirs for the week ending June 9 against their total capacity of 157.799 BCM. “It is 58 per cent short of the stock available during corresponding period last year and 79 per cent of storage of average of last 10 years,” the ministry said in a statement.

Water ministry officials said that southern states are worst affected by the sudden dip with water levels at about 15 per cent of the total live storage capacity in 31 reservoirs of this region.

In fact, four reservoirs — three in Maharashtra and one in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (combined project in both states) — are left with no water.

However, the officials added, Andhra Pradesh overall has fared well this year with better storage reported vis-à-vis last year. Only two other states — Tripura and Rajasthan — have managed to maintain better water levels this year.

On the other hand, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala have reported lower levels of water in major reservoirs compared to last year.

Experts attribute the depleting water levels in reservoirs to two years of poor rainfall in the country with this year’s drought-like conditions so far adding to the woes. “All hopes for replenishment of water levels now rests on prediction of “above normal” monsoon by the Indian meteorological department in 2016,” the experts said, adding, “So far the monsoon