India’s 40% rainfall shortfall hits reservoir water levels New Delhi: India’s 40% deficit in cumulative monsoon rainfall has taken a toll on live water storage in the country’s 166 major reservoirs, which has dipped to nearly 27.5% of their total storage capacity.Though overall storage of the 166 reservoirs at the current level is still better than normal (the average storage of the last 10 years) during the corresponding period, the fall linked to depressed rainfall due to El Nino may be a reason for worry as functional efficiency of these reservoirs is important for irrigation, domestic use and industrial requirement, including hydro-electric power generation. The tardy progress of monsoon may lead to further decline, posing a risk to farming operations and other usage. Twenty out of these 166 major reservoirs are of hydro-electric projects such as Gobind Sagar in Himachal Pradesh, Thein Dam in Punjab, Rana Pratap Sagar in Rajasthan, and Hirakud in Odisha, Panchet Hill in Jharkhand, Ukai and Sardar Sarovar in Gujarat, and Pench in Maharashtra, among others.Central Water Commission data on live storage of the 166 reservoirs shows that water storage in 11 reservoirs of the northern region and 28 reservoirs of the central region is better than the corresponding period last year, but the status of reservoirs in the eastern (27), southern (47) and western (53) regions is quite worrisome.The total live storage capacity of 166 reservoirs is around 183.6 billion cubic metres (BCM) which is more than 71% of the live storage capacity of 257.8 BCM which is estimated to have been created in the country.State-wise data shows that reservoirs in Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have better storage (in %) than last year for the corresponding period. On the other hand, reservoirs in Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura and West Bengal have less storage (in %) than last year.In 2025, the monsoon arrived over Kerala eight days in advance and progressed well thereafter, making water available to reservoirs in June, unlike this year when the monsoon onset happened three days late and its progress continues to be weak.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorVishwa MohanVishwa Mohan is Senior Editor at The Times of India. He writes on environment, climate change, agriculture, water resources and clean energy, tracking policy issues and climate diplomacy. He has been covering Parliament since 2003 to see how politics shaped up domestic policy and India’s position at global platform. Before switching over to explore sustainable development issues, Vishwa had covered internal security and investigative agencies for more than a decade.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosContradicting Supreme Court and Tribunal Orders?: TN Assembly’s Firm Stand Against ProjectRare Handshake At LoC During Pakistani National’s Repatriation Draws Attention Across BorderJaishankar Says Global Appreciation For Indian Talent Is Growing RapidlyCongress Wins 5 Of 7 Karnataka MLC Seats, BJP Probes Suspected Cross-VotingRSS At 100: Why The Organisation Remains Unregistered And Why The Issue Keeps Returning?From Net-Zero Design To Cargo Hub: What Makes Jewar Airport Different?Why Brahmins Are Suddenly At The Centre Of UP’s 2027 Political Battle | SP vs BSP vs BJP ExplainedTMC Escalates Battle To Delhi As Abhishek Banerjee Seeks Action On Rebel MPsJio Files DRHP With SEBI | Mukesh Ambani Hands IPO Leadership To Isha, Akash & AnantFrom ‘Brother-in-Ideals’ To A Cold Greeting: Stalin’s Message Exposes DMK-Congress Rift123PhotostoriesLove Poha for breakfast? 6 ways to add 20 gms protein to each servingNew York’s first lady Rama Duwaji made bootleg Knicks merch look runway-readyFrom earning Rs 700 in his first job to doing plays with Dilip Joshi and Disha Vakani: When Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’s Tanmay Vekaria Aka Bagha got candid about his life5 signs of emotional manipulation in relationships, as per mental health counselor10 regional jackfruit dishes from across the world and why it is celebrated so muchFrom respecting Gauri Khan’s space to teaching his sons to respect women: 5 times Shah Rukh Khan proved he is Bollywood’s ultimate green flag10 baby girl names that mean pure in different languagesFrom Alia Bhatt to Katrina Kaif: Inside the pilates routine that keeps these Bollywood divas fit6 most beautiful hidden villages in India that are absolutely worth a tripWhy were women banned from doing makeup on Bollywood sets? Sonam Kapoor’s makeup artist explains the breaking of the 59-year-old barrier123Hot PicksEngland vs New ZealandYuvraj SinghUSA Vs AustraliaAP SSC resultsKannur University FYUGP TrialShiv SenaJD VanceStrait of HormuzHormoz nuclear power plantTop TrendingBihar gang-rapeUS-Iran Peace DealStock Market LiveFIFA World Cup 2026What is Legacy BadgeBEST bus strikeAIIMS BSc Nursing Admit CardMHT CET PCM 2nd attempt resultsGold rate todayIndia-UK FTA
New Delhi: India’s 40% deficit in cumulative monsoon rainfall has taken a toll on live water storage in the country’s 166 major reservoirs, which has dipped to nearly 27.5% of their total storage capacity.Though overall storage of the 166 reservoirs at the current level is still better than normal (the average storage of the last 10 years) during the corresponding period, the fall linked to depressed rainfall due to El Nino may be a reason for worry as functional efficiency of these reservoirs is important for irrigation, domestic use and industrial requirement, including hydro-electric power generation. The tardy progress of monsoon may lead to further decline, posing a risk to farming operations and other usage.
Twenty out of these 166 major reservoirs are of hydro-electric projects such as Gobind Sagar in Himachal Pradesh, Thein Dam in Punjab, Rana Pratap Sagar in Rajasthan, and Hirakud in Odisha, Panchet Hill in Jharkhand, Ukai and Sardar Sarovar in Gujarat, and Pench in Maharashtra, among others.Central Water Commission data on live storage of the 166 reservoirs shows that water storage in 11 reservoirs of the northern region and 28 reservoirs of the central region is better than the corresponding period last year, but the status of reservoirs in the eastern (27), southern (47) and western (53) regions is quite worrisome.The total live storage capacity of 166 reservoirs is around 183.6 billion cubic metres (BCM) which is more than 71% of the live storage capacity of 257.8 BCM which is estimated to have been created in the country.State-wise data shows that reservoirs in Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have better storage (in %) than last year for the corresponding period. On the other hand, reservoirs in Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura and West Bengal have less storage (in %) than last year.In 2025, the monsoon arrived over Kerala eight days in advance and progressed well thereafter, making water available to reservoirs in June, unlike this year when the monsoon onset happened three days late and its progress continues to be weak.
