A view of Chembarambakkam reservoir | Photo Credit: VELANKANNI RAJ B

Hardly one in four major Indian reservoirs was filled to half, with no reservoir having storage above 90 per cent this week. The development comes on the heels of storage in the 166 major reservoirs dropping to 28 per cent of the 183.565 billion cubic metres (BCM) capacity at  51.917 BCM, data from the Central Water Commission (CWC) showed. 

The level is lower than a year ago (56.533 BCM),  but higher than normal (the last 10 years’ storage of 44.834 BCM). According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), nearly two-thirds of the country has received deficient or no rainfall between June 1 and 11. 

Despite the South-West monsoon setting in on June 4 and lashing parts of the country, storage in southern and eastern regions continued to be below 25 per cent, with levels dropping further last week. 

Telangana, Karnataka worrisome

In the southern region, the situation continued to be worrisome in Telangana and Karnataka, where storage dropped to 15.5 per cent and 14 per cent, respectively. Andhra had a better level at 33 per cent as also Tamil Nadu at 34 per cent. The level improved a tad in Kerala to 22 per cent. Overall, the 47 reservoirs were filled to 21 per cent or 11.602 BCM of the 55.288 BCM capacity. 

In the eastern region, the level in the 27 reservoirs was 22 per cent of the 21.759 BCM capacity at 4.736 BCM. Assam reservoirs were half-full at 55 per cent, while storage in West Bengal and Odisha was below 20 per cent. Bihar and Jharkhand’s levels were around 30 per cent, while in the lone reservoirs of Meghalaya and Tripura had levels of over 50 per cent and 65 per cent, respectively. 

Storage in the 11 reservoirs in the northern region was 34 per cent of the 19.836 BCM at 6.672 BCM. The level was higher than a year ago, though it was lower in Rajasthan at 43.5 per cent. In Himachal and Punjab, the reservoirs were filled to 27 per cent and 47 per cent, respectively.

Situation may improve

The level in the western region’s 53 reservoirs was 11.858 BCM or 31 per cent of the 38.094 BCM capacity. Storage in Goa’s lone reservoir was 28 per cent, while in Maharashtra, it dropped to 21 per cent and in Gujarat, it was 40 per cent.

Storage in the central region’s 28 reservoirs was 35 per cent of the 48.588 BCM at 17.049 BCM. The level in Chhattisgarh was 52.5 per cent, and in Madhya Pradesh, it was 37 per cent. Reservoirs in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand were filled to 29 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively. 

With the IMD predicting the revival of the monsoon over the western coast, the situation could improve over the next couple of weeks.

Published on June 12, 2026