Storage in Telangana and Karnataka was precarious at 16 per cent and 16.77 per cent, respectively | Photo Credit: SRIDHAR KAVALI

Storage in India’s 166 major reservoirs dropped to 30 per cent of the capacity this week, with 3 of 4 reservoirs being half empty, data from the Central Water Commission (CWC) showed.

The CWC’s weekly status of the major reservoirs showed that storage dropped to 30.67 per cent of the 183.565 billion cubic metres (BCM) capacity, to 56.3 BCM. This was higher than the year-ago and normal levels.

Data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) showed that 29 per cent of the 725 districts experienced deficient or no rainfall between March 1 and May 28. During January-February this year, at least 70 per cent of the country was rain-deficient.

Storage in the eastern and southern regions dropped below 25 per cent this week, while it was below 40 per cent in the other three regions.

Lowest in South

The southern region had the lowest level, with storage in the 47 reservoirs declining to 22.5 per cent of the 55.288 BCM capacity, to 12.459 BCM. Storage in Telangana and Karnataka was precarious at 16 per cent and 16.77 per cent, respectively. The level in Kerala slipped to 20 per cent, while in Andhra and Tamil Nadu, storage levels were a tad better at 35 per cent and 33 per cent, respectively. 

The 27 reservoirs in the eastern region contained 5.323 BCM, or 24 per cent of the 21.759 BCM capacity. The level in West Bengal’s 2 reservoirs continued to be at 12.5 per cent, while it was down to 21.5 per cent in Odisha. Recent rain helped improve storage in Assam’s 2 reservoirs to 37 per cent, while the lone reservoirs in Meghalaya and Tripura were filled over 55 per cent and 60 per cent, respectively.

The northern region was better placed than the other regions, with the levels in 11 reservoirs at 39 per cent of the 19.836 BCM capacity at 7.694 BCM. Storage in Punjab was 59 per cent, while in Himachal and Rajasthan, it was 33 per cent and 44 per cent, respectively. 

Monsoon delay

In the western region, storage in the 53 reservoirs was 36 per cent or 13.625 BCM of the 38.094 BCM capacity. Goa’s lone reservoir was filled to 31 per cent, while in Maharashtra, the level was 28 per cent. In Gujarat, it was 45 per cent.

In the 28 reservoirs of the central region, storage was 35 per cent of the 48.588 BCM capacity at 17.199 BCM. Chhattisgarh had the best storage of 54 per cent, while the level in Madhya Pradesh was 36 per cent. The level in Uttar Pradesh was 33 per cent and in Uttarakhand, it was 19 per cent. 

The storage could be under further pressure with the south-west monsoon running into problems. However, it is expected to emerge sometime next week, and it will likely help improve storage.  

Published on May 29, 2026