The reduced storage levels in the southern region are a concerning sign of worsening water scarcity. States like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu are facing challenges with irrigation, drinking water supply, and hydroelectric power generation. Recent data shows water storage at only 17% of reservoir capacity, well below historical averages.Let’s explore the reasons behind the sudden development of this condition.
Storage levels in the southern region have decreased, indicating worsening water scarcity and potential challenges for irrigation, drinking water supply, and hydroelectric power generation in states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. According to the recent updates from the Central Water Commission, only 17% of reservoir capacity is currently filled, significantly below historical averages. The reports that 42 reservoirs in the southern region under CWC monitoring have a total live storage capacity of 53.334 billion cubic meters, with the current live storage at 8.865 billion cubic meters. This level is notably lower compared to last year (29%) and the ten-year average (23%). Conversely, the eastern region, encompassing states such as Assam, Odisha, and West Bengal, has shown improvement in water storage levels compared to the previous year and the ten-year average. The report reveals that 23 monitored reservoirs in this region, with a total live storage capacity of 20.430 billion cubic meters, currently hold 7.889 billion cubic meters of water, representing 39% of their total capacity. This demonstrates an increase from the storage levels of the same period last year (34%) and the ten-year average (34%).
The current water storage situation in regions such as Western, Northern, and Central India presents a less optimistic outlook. With storage levels in key reservoirs falling below both the previous year’s figures and the ten-year average, concerns about water scarcity loom large. The categorization of reservoir storage across different river basins as “better than normal,” “close to normal,” “deficient,” or “highly deficient” highlights the varying degrees of water availability in different regions. While some basins like Brahmaputra, Narmada, and Tapi exhibit better-than-normal storage levels, others such as Cauvery and east flowing rivers between Mahanadi and Pennar face highly deficient conditions. This disparity underscores the need for effective water management strategies to address the challenges posed by fluctuating water levels across India’s diverse river basins.
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