Adequate water in reservoirs can make up for low rains

Adequate water in reservoirs can not only help recharge groundwater in the event of low rains, but can also be used for irrigation

Even as India is bracing for a below-average monsoon this year, a comfortable water storage position in 85 important reservoirs across the country can mitigate the effects.

According to the Central Water Commission, water levels in most reservoirs, barring some in southern India, are better than last year.

Adequate water in reservoirs can not only help recharge groundwater in the event of low rain, but also be used for irrigation.

According to data, water storage in the 85 reservoirs, of which 37 have substantial power generation potential, is 51.13 billion cubic metres.

This is 126 per cent of the average storage of last year and 142 per cent of the average in the past 10 years. In north India, the level was 38 per cent of live storage capacity, while it was 30 per cent last year at this time.

In East India, the water level is equivalent to 47 per cent of storage capacity, while it was 35 per cent of storage capacity during the same period last year; in central India, the level is equal to 42 per cent of storage capacity, while last year it was 34 per cent.

In west and south India, the water levels are equal to 38 per cent and 16 per cent of storage capacity as on May 1. Last year, it was 31 per cent and 14 per cent, respectively.

"The storage position in major reservoirs, except southern India, is satisfactory," said agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh.

The data showed states with a better water storage position compared to last year are Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Odisha, West Bengal, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Only Jharkhand is a state where the water level in the reservoirs is less than last year's level.