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India’s Reservoir Recovery Supports Rabi Outlook, But Shortfalls Persist
India’s reservoirs have received more water in recent weeks.
This could help farmers grow winter, or rabi, crops.
It may also help produce more electricity from hydropower.
However, the country still has less stored water than usual.
Northern and southern India have the biggest shortages compared with normal levels.
Rainfall since June has also been below the seasonal average.
Experts say areas with good irrigation may manage, but other farming regions could face pressure.
Hydropower generation may improve soon, although it could decline when the monsoon ends.
Storage in 178 monitored reservoirs reached 130.55 billion cubic metres on 10 September.
National storage was 6.9% below normal and 20.1% below last year’s level.
Western, central and eastern regions were above their long-term normal storage levels.
Northern and southern reservoirs remained sharply below normal, especially in the south.
Improved rainfall may aid rabi irrigation and hydropower, though monsoon deficits and winter conditions remain risks.
- Who
- India’s farmers, power producers and water managers are affected; the Central Water Commission provided the reservoir data.
- What
- Reservoir storage has recovered recently but remains below normal nationally, with major regional differences.
- Where
- Across India, including western, central, eastern, northern and southern regions.
- When
- The latest reservoir figures were recorded on 10 September; rainfall data covered 1 June to 12 September.
- Why
- Recent rainfall improved storage, but cumulative monsoon rainfall remained below normal, affecting irrigation and hydropower prospects.
Improved Outlook
Continuing Risks
Rabi irrigation
Improved Outlook
Higher reservoir levels should improve water availability for rabi crops.
Continuing Risks
Low storage in the southern region could pressure farming because it relies more heavily on reservoirs.
Hydropower
Improved Outlook
Recent rainfall and reservoir gains may support better hydropower generation in the near term.
Continuing Risks
The improvement may be short-lived as the monsoon retreats and the lean hydropower period begins.
Regional resilience
Improved Outlook
Western, central and eastern regions have storage above their long-term normal levels.
Continuing Risks
National storage remains below normal, while northern and southern regions remain substantially weaker.
Key facts
- Monitored reservoirs
- 178 reservoirs were included in the Central Water Commission data.
- National storage
- 130.55 billion cubic metres, equal to 70.66% of combined live storage capacity.
- National comparison
- Storage was 6.9% below normal and 20.1% below the level recorded a year earlier.
- Southern region
- Storage stood at 54.52% of capacity, compared with a normal level of 73%.
- Northern region
- Storage stood at 63.78% of capacity, compared with a normal level of 78.53%.
- Rainfall deficit
- Cumulative rainfall from 1 June to 12 September was 662.3mm, 15% below the normal 778.6mm.
- Hydropower output
- Hydropower generation fell 11% year-on-year during April-August.
Quotes
Raj Kumar Chaudhary
Former chairman and managing director of NHPC Ltd.
“The improved reservoir storage is positive for the rabi crop. However, the low water levels in the southern region are a cause for concern, given the region’s greater dependence on reservoirs for irrigation. In the northern region, areas with good irrigation facilities are unlikely to face major issues, but regions without adequate irrigation could come under pressure.”
livemint.com
“Overall monsoon has been erratic this year. However, recent increase in rains and reservoir levels may lead to better hydro power generation in the days ahead,”
livemint.com
Sources
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