The Hindu Business Line : Rains fill up 58% level in reservoirs

AT the fag end of the current rainy season, most of the 71 major reservoirs in the country have filled up and the storage level has reached 58 per cent of the full reservoir level (FRL), according to the latest data released by the Central Water Commission.

But despite above average rainfall, in 33 out of the 36 meteorological sub-divisions in the country, the water level in these reservoirs has reached only 81 per cent of the last 10 years' average. The 71 reservoirs, that can hold 131.28 billion cubic metres (BCM) water, held 75.74 BCM water as on September 12.

Water in the 71 reservoirs, which account for nearly 80 per cent of the total storage capacity, rose 4 per cent from 70.96 BCM to 75.74 BCM during the week ended September 12, according to a Ministry of Agriculture release.

The reservoir status, however, compares favourably at 111 per cent against last year's level at this time. Two reservoirs — Somasila in Andhra Pradesh and Bhima in Maharashtra — have no "utilisable water" despite the monsoon showers, the release said.

As many as 16 major reservoirs in key agricultural areas of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat were running dry at the beginning of the monsoon season. On June 6, the reservoirs had just 11 per cent of the FRL water. The water level was 65 per cent of the last 10 years' average at that time. By July, the situation improved, but 10 reservoirs were still without any utilisable water. The water availability of all the reservoirs had touched 16 per cent of the FRL at 21 BCM on July 11.

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