Storage in India’s 166 major reservoirs declined further this week with the level in the southern region dipping below 50 per cent of capacity. At least 70 per cent of the country has received deficient or no rainfall since the beginning of the year.
Data from the Central Water Commission (CWC) showed on Thursday that storage dropped to 104.133 billion cubic metres (BMC)or 56.73 per cent of the 183.565 BCM capacity. According to CWC’s weekly status on major reservoirs, the level was 13 per cent higher than a year ago and 27 per cent more than normal.
According to the India Meteorological Department, data from 719 districts revealed that 91 per cent of them received no rainfall since March 1. During January-February, over 70 per cent of the country received deficient or no rainfall.
South lowest
The level in the 47 reservoirs of the southern region was the lowest at 47.66 per cent or 26.350 BCM of the 55.288 BCM capacity. Telangana’s storage was down to 40 per cent, while it was below 50 per cent in Karnataka and Kerala. In Tamil Nadu, the reservoirs were filled above 50 per cent and in Telangana, above 55 per cent.
In the 11 reservoirs of the northern region, storage was 51.6 per cent of the 19.836 BCM capacity at 10.237 BCM. In Himachal, the level was 45 per cent, while it was above 60 per cent in Punjab and Rajasthan.
The 27 reservoirs of the eastern region were filled to 55 per cent or 11.975 BCM of the 21.759 BCM capacity. In Assam, storage was 19 per cent, while it was 34 per cent in West Bengal, 37 per cent in Mizoram and 39 per cent in Bihar. Meghalaya’s lone reservoir was filled to 95 per cent, while the level in Jharkhand was 63 per cent.
No major rainfall
The level in the central region’s 28 reservoirs was 62 per cent of the 48.588 BCM capacity at 30.121 BCM. Chhattisgarh’s dams were filled to 76 per cent, while in Madhya Pradesh storage was 64 per cent. In Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, it was 53 per cent and 50 per cent, respectively.
The level in western region’s 53 reservoirs was 67 per cent of the 38.094 BCM capacity at 25.450 BCM. The level in Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat was between 65 per cent and 70 per cent.
With IMD not predicting any major rainfall over the next two weeks, the level in the reservoirs will likely decline further.
Published on March 5, 2026