Storage levels in reservoirs up

There is good news on the water-storage level, too, along with the projection of a normal monsoon this year.

According to the Central Water Commission, the water level in the 81 major reservoirs in the country as on April 13 was 52.481 billion cubic metres (BCM). This is 35 per cent of the live capacity at full reservoir level of 151.768 BCM.

Last year, during the same time, the level was 23 per cent of the capacity. Compared with the last 10 year's average, it is higher by 13 percentage points.

South and central India seem to be comfortably placed in terms of the storage position.

Going by the storage level, the situation augurs well for crops such as rice, maize, cotton and oilseeds, provided the weather Gods keep their date with monsoon.

According to the commission, eight reservoirs have a storage level between 51 per cent and 80 per cent. Two reservoirs in the South — Mettur and Gerusoppa — have a level between 81 per cent and 90 per cent, while in three others it is between 71 per cent and 80 per cent. The other reservoir having over 70 per cent storage is Machkund in Orissa (78 per cent). This could be good news for paddy farmers of the Cauvery delta, especially in Tamil Nadu. This is because chances of release of water on June 12 from the Mettur dam for the kharif rice are good. Last year, during the same time the water level was 36 per cent of the capacity.

The level in 50 reservoirs is below 40 per cent. Of these, 16 are in the South, 10 in central parts, nine in the West, 10 in the East and five in the North.

State-wise, the water level is lower than normal in Rajasthan by 73 per cent. In fact, the storage is lower in all the three major reservoirs in the State. While the situation is better in Punjab, in Himachal Pradesh, too, the level is higher than last year.

In keeping with poor rainfall in the East last year, the storage is 70 per cent lower than normal in Tripura and in West Bengal and Jharkhand, it is 27 per cent and 33 per cent lower, respectively.

The level in five of the eight reservoirs in Gujarat is higher than last year, while it is lower in two and the same as last year in one.

In Maharashtra, the storage level in six of the 11 reservoirs is higher.

In Madhya Pradesh, the level is higher in three of the five reservoirs but the storage is almost nil in Gandhi Sagar. The two major reservoirs in Uttarakhand have a storage level that is better than last year.

Four of the five major reservoirs in Andhra Pradesh boast a healthy water level and in Karnataka nine of the 14 reservoirs report an improved storage. In Kerala, four of five reservoirs in a better shape, while in Tamil Nadu the story repeats in four of the six reservoirs. In Lower Bhawani reservoir in the State, the level is same as last year.

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