Water Reservoirs

Reservoir water levels steady, except in North India, shows data

Despite the delayed monsoon, residual soil moisture is expected to be good

Draft bill on water resource management authority circulated among states

A draft model bill proposing setting up of an Integrated Water Resources Management Authority which will be responsible for developing water security plans from villages to cities, groundwater management and floodplain management has been circulated to all states, a senior official said on Tuesday. Rakesh Kumar Verma, Additional Secretary, Department of Water Resources said to achieve water security as part of the vision for Viksit Bharat, the government has proposed the Integrated Water Resources Management Authority (IWRM) at the state level, which will coordinate and integrate efforts of multiple water-related departments and agencies. "A draft model bill has been circulated to all the states. This state IWRM authority, under the overall supervision of an IWRM council headed by chief minister, has been vested with various regulatory powers to set the direction of water sector development," he said at the inaugural session of the 10th Water Innovation Summit organised by the ...

India's reservoir levels rise from last year, northern region lags: CWC

India's water reservoirs are experiencing a significant boost in live storage with 155 of them across the country currently at 88 per cent of their total capacity, a 14 per cent rise from the normal storage. This is a marked improvement compared to last year's storage levels for the same period, which stood at 134.056 BCM, as well as the normal 10-year average storage of 139.114 BCM. The bulletin further said that 86 reservoirs across the country are reporting higher storage levels than last year and 123 reservoirs were exceeding their normal capacity. The 2024 figures reflect an 18 per cent increase over last year's levels and a 14 per cent rise compared to the normal storage. While the overall storage levels across the country are higher, regional variations exist. The Western region, comprising Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Goa, has witnessed the most robust storage figures, with 97 per cent of its total live storage capacity already filled. This is a substantial improvement compa

Current reservoir water storage 126% higher than last year's figures: CWC

The Central Water Commission (CWC) has said the current water storage levels has recorded an increase of 126 per cent compared to last year's corresponding period and 119 per cent of the 10-year average. As of August 29, the total live storage in these reservoirs stands at 144.333 billion cubic metres (BCM), which is 80 per cent of their total capacity. This marks an increase of 126 per cent compared to last year's corresponding period and 119 per cent of the 10-year average, referred to as Normal storage. The CWC's report highlights a generally favourable water storage situation across the country, with the overall storage position being better than both last year's and the Normal storage levels. The 155 monitored reservoirs, which include 20 hydroelectric projects, have a combined capacity of 180.852 BCM, contributing to about 70.15 per cent of the nation's total estimated live storage capacity. Despite the positive national outlook, the Northern region, encompassing Himachal ..

Current reservoir storage levels surpass 10-yr average by 14%: CWC

The Central Water Commission (CWC) has reported a significant improvement in the live storage levels of India's reservoirs this year, with the current storage exceeding the ten-year average by 14 per cent. According to the latest Reservoir Storage Bulletin, the live storage available in 150 major reservoirs across the country is 124.016 billion cubic metres (BCM), which is 69 per cent of the total live storage capacity of these reservoirs. This marks a substantial increase from the corresponding period last year, when the storage was 111.85 BCM. The current storage also exceeds the ten-year average, known as 'normal storage', which stood at 108.79 BCM. Regionally, the storage levels vary across different parts of the country. In the northern region, which includes Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan, the storage is at 51 per cent of the total capacity, a decrease from last year's 88 per cent and below the normal storage level of 71 per cent. Conversely, the eastern region, ...

North India's dams hold only 51% of capacity amid below-normal rainfall

Reservoirs in Punjab, Himachal, and Rajasthan are dangerously low on water levels, threatening irrigation and power generation as the monsoon season ends

Despite heavy rain, avg water level in reservoirs remains less than last yr

Despite heavy rain across the country, the average water level in India's 150 main reservoirs remains less than last year but more than the last decade's level, according to official data. According to the Central Water Commission, significant variations in water storage levels across different regions of the country reflect both positive and concerning trends. The total live storage capacity of the 150 monitored reservoirs is 178.784 billion cubic metres (BCM), which is about 69.35 per cent of the estimated 257.812 BCM created nationwide. According to a CWC report, the live storage available in these reservoirs stands at 91.496 BCM, or 51 per cent of their total capacity. This is 94 per cent of the storage levels recorded during the same period last year and 107 per cent of the normal storage based on the last decade's average. In comparison to the previous week, as per the July 25 bulletin, the live storage available in these reservoirs was 69.27 BCM, which was 39 per cent of the

Water level in India's main reservoirs rises to 26% of total capacity: CWC

Amid heavy rains in different parts of the country, water levels in 150 main reservoirs of the country have increased to 26 per cent of the total live storage capacity, still lower than in the same period last year, according to official data. Last week, the water level was at 22 per cent. The current live storage stands at 46.311 billion cubic meters (BCM), which is 26 per cent of the total live storage capacity of these reservoirs. This is a significant drop compared to the same period last year, when the live storage was 58.864 BCM, according to Central Water Commission's (CWC's) Friday bulletin. The reservoirs being monitored have a combined total live storage capacity of 178.784 BCM, representing 69.35 per cent of the overall estimated live storage capacity in the country. Despite the extensive storage capacity, the current figures reveal that the available storage is only 79 per cent of last year's levels and 90 per cent of the normal storage, which is calculated based on the

Rains replenish reservoirs, water levels rise for first time since Sep '23

Amid heavy rains across India, the water level of the country's main reservoirs has risen for the first time since September last year, the Central Water Commission (CWC) said. Despite the marginal rise of 2 per cent from the previous week, this marks a departure from the consistent week-on-week decline reported since the bulletin issued on September 29, 2023, when the storage capacity stood at 73 per cent, according to the analysis of the data. This improvement comes amid widespread rainfall across the country. The CWC, which monitors the live storage status of 150 reservoirs across India, released its latest bulletin detailing these developments on July 4. The CWC issues a weekly bulletin every Thursday, providing updates on the status of these reservoirs. According to the bulletin, out of the 150 reservoirs, 20 are dedicated to hydroelectric projects, with a total live storage capacity of 35.30 billion cubic meters (BCM). The CWC bulletin on July 4 said the live storage availa

Bhilai steel plant township faces water crisis as reservoir levels drop

However, the water crisis has not hit operations at BSP yet

More than 50% marginal farmers reported losing crops due to extreme weather

The study suggested buffering of water in reservoirs, and the recharge of groundwater through check dams and watersheds for water in agriculture

Water level at India's main reservoirs declines to 23%, says CWC report

The water level of the country's 150 main reservoirs has dropped to 23 per cent and is also 77 per cent less than last year's levels at this time, according to Central Water Commission (CWC) data. Last week, the live storage of these reservoirs was at 24 per cent. The present storage is merely 77 per cent of last year's levels and 94 per cent of the normal storage, CWC data stated. In its latest weekly bulletin, released on Friday, the commission said that "the total live storage available is 41.705 billion cubic metres (BCM), equating to 23 per cent of the total capacity". "This is a significant decrease from the 53.832 BCM recorded during the same period last year and the normal storage level of 44.511 BCM. Consequently, the current storage is only 77 per cent of last year's levels and 94 per cent of the normal storage," the commission said. The 150 main reservoirs monitored by the CWC have a combined live storage capacity of 178.784 BCM, which is around 69.35 per cent of the to

South water reservoir levels down 46%: Central Water Commission bulletin

The live storage in 150 reservoirs of the country was 45.3 bcm as on May 16, 2024. It was 57.4 bcm in 2023

Former PM Deve Gowda bats for Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir project

Former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda on Sunday batted for the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir Project across the Cauvery river, which neighbouring Tamil Nadu has been opposing. Tamil Nadu contends that the balancing reservoir will take away its share of Cauvery water and hence it has been opposing it. In a press release, Gowda said the reservoir is necessary to provide drinking water to Bengaluru City and also regulated release of water to Tamil Nadu, including water release during lean periods. Bengaluru is India's IT capital and it is second Silicon City in the world after San Francisco, he said, adding that at present the capacity of Cauvery water supply to Bengaluru city is 18 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic Feet). The population of Bengaluru as noted by the Supreme Court was 96 lakh in 2011 whereas its present population has touched a phenomenal 1.35 crore, Gowda noted. He added that the projected population of Bengaluru metropolitan region for 2044 would be abou

The groundwater reality

The Assessment Report, put together by the Central Ground Water Board with inputs from states, reckons the total water recharge in 2023 to be around 449.53 billion cubic metres

Reservoir levels have seldom been this low in September, shows data

Nearly 40 per cent of storage capacity is unutilised

Modak Sagar lake overflows, water stock of city's 7 reservoirs reaches 68%

Modak Sagar lake, one of the seven reservoirs that supply potable water to Mumbai and its suburbs, has started overflowing following incessant rains in the catchment area, an official said on Friday. The Modak Sagar lake built on the Vaitarna river in neighbouring Thane district started overflowing at 10.52 pm on Thursday night, he said. This is the fourth lake, after Vihar, Tansa and Tulsi, to overflow this monsoon season. Thane District Information Officer Manoj Sanap said that after it started overflowing, two gates of the dam were opened to release 6,000 cusecs of water. Tulsi lake located in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park was the first to overflow this year. It started overflowing on July 20. Mumbai receives 3,800 MLD (millions of litres per day) water from the seven reservoirs - Bhatsa, Upper Vaitarna, Middle Vaitarna, Tansa, Modak Sagar, Vihar and Tulsi - located in Mumbai, Thane and Nashik districts. According to the civic administration, the aggregate water stock of the

Odisha to invest Rs 75,000 cr for development of water resources in 5 years

The CM said that the Water Resources Department is implementing 5-T principles in letter and spirit

Water level in 75% reservoirs in India below 40% their capacity: Report

As of June 30, the water level in reservoirs of 10 states was lower than the 30-year average

Officer drains 2.1 mn lt water to retrieve iPhone; suspended, asked to pay

In Chhattisgarh's Kanker district, a food inspector, Rajesh Vishwas drained a reservoir over three days to retrieve his iPhone, causing much controversy and uproar among the public