India’s Major Reservoirs Only 32% Full Despite Monsoon Arrival, Says Central Water Commission

Despite the southwest monsoon covering the entire country, water storage levels in India’s major reservoirs remain significantly below capacity, raising concerns over water availability for agriculture, drinking water supply, and hydropower generation.

According to the latest data released by the Central Water Commission (CWC), the country’s 155 major reservoirs currently hold only 58.85 billion cubic metres (BCM) of water, which is 32.38% of their total live storage capacity of 181.74 BCM. This means nearly 68% of the storage capacity remains unfilled even as the monsoon season reaches its midpoint.

Experts attribute the low storage levels to below-normal rainfall across several parts of north, central, and western India. Reduced rainfall has led to lower river inflows, limiting the amount of water entering reservoirs. Although some regions have received good rainfall, it has not been sufficient to significantly improve the country’s overall water storage.

Reservoirs play a crucial role in ensuring drinking water supply, irrigation for agriculture, and hydroelectric power generation. Experts have warned that if rainfall does not improve in the coming weeks, the low storage levels could affect Kharif crop cultivation, urban and rural water supply, and electricity production.

The Central Water Commission said it is continuously monitoring reservoir levels across the country. Officials expressed hope that the situation could improve if rainfall intensifies over the next few weeks.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast increased rainfall in several parts of the country in the coming days, which is expected to boost inflows into reservoirs. However, water experts have stressed the need for careful water conservation and efficient management until storage levels improve.

The current situation highlights the importance of prudent water use, particularly during the monsoon season, as reservoir storage remains a key indicator of the country’s water security for the months ahead.