Level in key reservoirs well below average

Another fortnight’s lack of rain will impact power generation.

The impact of deficient rains is showing on the country’s 81 key reservoirs, whose water levels are now 28 per cent lower than the average at this time for the past decade. And, if the problem persisted for another 15 days, hydro-electric projects in the northern and eastern part of the country could be affected, Power Secretary H S Brahma said.

According to Central Water Commission data, the storage at reservoirs across the country was 15.068 billion cubic metres for the week ended June 18, which is 10 per cent of the live capacity at full reservoir level. During the same period last year, the storage level was 20 per cent and the average for the past 10 years was 14 per cent.

Brahma told Business Standard that southern states could manage, as there were a larger number of thermal and gas-based projects. But eastern reservoirs, which were most dependent on rain, would be more severely affected. The impact would be lower in the northern states, as the reservoirs are relatively less dependent on rain.

Already, in certain reservoirs in the East, such as Maithon, used by the Damodar Valley Corporation, the water level was less than a quarter of the average level. Similarly, in Upper Kolab in Orissa, the storage level was at one-sixth the decadal average.

An official at the Central Water Commission said that the situation was not alarming at present. “But if rains play hide and seek, then states will start using the priority list for allocating water,” he said. When water level drops to a level where the state government thinks it is alarming, supply for drinking water is to be given top priority, followed by irrigation and then come the other uses.
 

STORAGE LEVELS
Reservoir	Storage level*
	2009	2008	Avg for 10 yrs
Gobind Sagar (HP)	10	35	22
Thein (Punjab)	34	55	30
Maithon (Jharkhand)	10	36	44
Upper Kolab (Orissa)	2	4	12
Koyna (Maharashtra)	34	25	26
Pench (Maharashtra)	3	14	9
Nagarjuna Sagar (Andhra)	12	48	22
Mettur (Tamil Nadu)	28	69	42
Basin	Storage level*
	2009	Avg for 10 yrs	Change**
Ganga	6.99	10.21	-31.58
Indus	12.17	20.13	-39.56
Narmada	5.33	4.35	22.41
Tapi	12.25	15.99	-23.35
Mahi	19.79	21.93	-9.77
Sabarmati	6.26	11.02	-43.21
Rivers of Kutch	2.82	2.93	-3.85
Godavari	NA	9.43	NA
Krishna	11.39	13.6	-16.22
Mahanadi	14.06	15.73	-10.66
Cauvery	17.44	23.85	-26.88
West flowing rivers of South	15.30	17.94	-14.71
Data for week ended June 18, 2009 * Storage as a per cent of live capacity at full reservoir level ** Change with respect to 10-year average (in %) Source: Central Water Commission

Typically, reservoir levels are lower at the onset of the monsoon, but they are under further pressure this year because of average rainfall last year, as also due to the absence of pre-monsoon showers this year, a Citigroup report said.

While hydel power generation of around 35,000 Mw accounted for a quarter of the total electricity produced in India, low water level at the reservoirs could put pressure on other sources as well.

“In the absence of rains, there is more demand for power, though it has not affected production so far. If the problem persists, the non-hydel power plants would have to rework their shutdown plans for maintenance,” said an official at the Northern Region Load Dispatch Centre.

To make up for the shortfall, the government would have to step up the import of coal and liquefied natural gas, said power company executives.

“Power generation from hydro projects was much lower during the last year. Unless the situation improves, we may see a deep fall in power production. This may necessitate meeting the demand by shifting to high cost naphtha and LNG run or imported coal run power projects,” said RV Shahi, former Secretary, Ministry of Power.