Water Storage Levels Surge: A Nationwide Overview

The Central Water Commission (CWC) reports a substantial increase in current water storage levels, with a 126% rise from last year and 119% from the 10-year average. As of August 29, national storage levels are at 80% capacity. Regional variances persist, with the Northern region experiencing a decline.

The Central Water Commission (CWC) has reported a significant increase in current water storage levels across the country. Nationwide, storage levels have surged by 126% compared to the same period last year and are 119% above the 10-year average. As of August 29, the total live storage in monitored reservoirs stands at 144.333 billion cubic metres (BCM), which is 80% of their total capacity.

The CWC's findings highlight a generally positive water storage situation nationwide. The 155 reservoirs monitored, including 20 hydroelectric projects, collectively hold 180.852 BCM and account for around 70.15% of the country's total estimated live storage capacity. However, despite this national trend, regional variations exist. The Northern region, comprising Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan, has experienced a decrease in water storage levels, holding only 60% of their total capacity, down from 83% last year.

Conversely, the Eastern, Western, Central, and Southern regions have all shown substantial improvements. For instance, the Eastern region's 25 reservoirs now hold 66% of their capacity, up from 46% last year. In the Western region, reservoirs have reached 90% capacity, a notable rise from last year's 71%. While the Central region's reservoirs are at 84% capacity, up from 73%, the Southern region shows the most significant gains, with storage levels at 82% capacity, up from 49% last year. Several river basins, including the Ganga and Godavari, are reporting better-than-normal storage levels.