India's Key Water Reservoirs At 80% Capacity, Storage 125% Higher Than Last Year

The current live storage in key reservoirs across the country stands at 145.416 billion cubic meters (BCM), which is 125% of the storage level recorded during the same period last year and 117% of the ten-year average, according to official data.

The Central Water Commission's latest bulletin reveals that India’s 155 key reservoirs are currently at 80% of their total live storage capacity as of Dec. 5, 2024.

This marks a significant improvement compared to both the previous year and the ten-year average.

These reservoirs, which have a combined total capacity of 180.852 BCM, contribute to 70.15% of the nation’s total water storage infrastructure.

The CWC highlighted the critical role these reservoirs play in supporting agricultural, industrial, and drinking water needs across the country.

The western region, encompassing Goa, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, reported the highest storage level at 91% of total capacity, a significant increase from last year’s 79% and the 10-year average of 71%.

Similarly, the central and southern regions are performing well, with 83% storage each.

The central region, comprising Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, surpassed its ten-year average of 72%. The southern region’s reservoirs saw a dramatic improvement compared to last year’s 42% and the average of 63%.

However, the northern region, which includes Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan, remains below par, with storage at 56 per cent — significantly lower than last year’s 69% and the ten-year average.

The eastern region, which includes Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Tripura, Nagaland, and West Bengal, recorded 72% capacity, slightly above last year’s levels but below the historical average of 73%.

Hydroelectric reservoirs, which are vital for power generation, also showed mixed results. While most reservoirs reported healthy storage levels, six major projects were flagged for being below normal capacity.

States such as Himachal Pradesh and Punjab continue to face challenges in meeting their average reservoir levels.