Reservoir levels continue to dip as monsoon progress remains sluggish

Water levels in 166 reservoirs across the country continued to drop during the week ending June 25, 2026, as monsoon progress remained weak, though there were signs of an uptick in rainfall in some areas.

 

During the week ending June 25, water levels in the 166 reservoirs dropped to 48.405 BCM (billion cubic metres) from 50.457 BCM. The levels were lower than last year's but better than the normal storage levels, which are based on the average storage over the past 10 years, a situation that has prevailed throughout June. The last time water levels in the reservoirs monitored by the government were higher than last year's was during the week ending May 29, 2026.

 

 

Reservoirs in eastern India, numbering around 27, and southern India, numbering around 47, were the ones where water levels were even lower than the 10-year average.

 

Meanwhile, after a prolonged lull, the southwest monsoon showed some signs of picking up, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its latest forecast, saying that although overall rainfall activity is likely to remain below normal over most parts of the country, except parts of south Peninsular India and northeast India, where it is likely to be normal to above normal during the week ending July 1, conditions will once again become favourable for the further advance of the monsoon from July 2 to 8.

 

Overall, the rainfall deficiency stood at 42 per cent for the period from June 1 to 25, 2026.