Heavy rainfall in southern and eastern India has boosted water levels in the country’s main reservoirs by an average 9% in the last one week, according to data from the Central Water Commission (CWC).
Heavy rainfall in southern and eastern India has boosted water levels in the country’s main reservoirs by an average 9% in the last one week, according to data from the Central Water Commission (CWC).
Farmers and analysts said judicious utilisation of the water in reservoirs in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu can ensure water availability till kharif planting of 2019.
On Thursday, these dams together held 84.743 billion cubic metres (bcm) of water, which was 12% higher than last year’s levels, but 4% less than the 10-year average, the CWC data showed. Last week, the capacity was 77.554 bcm.
“The reservoir position is definitely in excess in the south Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, while in east India it is good. A matter of concern is west and northern states, but with monsoon season going on, the situation can improve there too,” said Masood Husain, chairman, CWC. “Major reservoirs in Kerala - from Idduki to Mullaperiyar - are full and gates to drain the excess water have been opened.”
He said even as excess rainfall in Kerala is worrisome, the water will be useful for farmers in the year ahead. “Apart from storage in reservoirs, the water will percolate in ground water and improve soil moisture. It is good for farmers and brightens prospects of winter crops. This water, if used judiciously, can be used till next year planting season,” Husain said.
The water in reservoirs will also help hydropower projects generate electricity after the four-month monsoon season ends in September, he added.
An official of the CWC said, “Last year, Kerala reservoirs had storage of 32% of the total capacity at this time. This year it is 96% storage. Even in Tamil Nadu, reservoirs have excess storage of 99%, compared with 17% in the previous year.”
P Chengal Reddy, chief adviser to the Consortium of Indian Farmers' Associations, said that high water levels in the Almatti and Tungabhadra dams will assure farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu of good water availability in the coming year. Similarly, he said, with the Idduki reservoir being full, farmers in Kerala will not have to worry for the next two years.
“Over 4 million acres under planting in the Godavari and Krishna delta have also secured water. The main shortfall is under Nagarjuna Sagar, under which 2 million acres of agriculture land is covered across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh,” he said.
Reservoir water levels were above normal - the 10-year average - in Odisha, Tripura, Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The situation was grim in Gujarat and Telangana, while in Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, it was below normal.
One reservoir - Yeldari reservoir (second largest dam in MarathwadaNSE 0.00 % region) in Maharashtra - still doesn’t have any water, as per the CWC data.
Farmers and analysts said judicious utilisation of the water in reservoirs in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu can ensure water availability till kharif planting of 2019.
On Thursday, these dams together held 84.743 billion cubic metres (bcm) of water, which was 12% higher than last year’s levels, but 4% less than the 10-year average, the CWC data showed. Last week, the capacity was 77.554 bcm.
“The reservoir position is definitely in excess in the south Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, while in east India it is good. A matter of concern is west and northern states, but with monsoon season going on, the situation can improve there too,” said Masood Husain, chairman, CWC. “Major reservoirs in Kerala - from Idduki to Mullaperiyar - are full and gates to drain the excess water have been opened.”
He said even as excess rainfall in Kerala is worrisome, the water will be useful for farmers in the year ahead. “Apart from storage in reservoirs, the water will percolate in ground water and improve soil moisture. It is good for farmers and brightens prospects of winter crops. This water, if used judiciously, can be used till next year planting season,” Husain said.
The water in reservoirs will also help hydropower projects generate electricity after the four-month monsoon season ends in September, he added.
An official of the CWC said, “Last year, Kerala reservoirs had storage of 32% of the total capacity at this time. This year it is 96% storage. Even in Tamil Nadu, reservoirs have excess storage of 99%, compared with 17% in the previous year.”
P Chengal Reddy, chief adviser to the Consortium of Indian Farmers' Associations, said that high water levels in the Almatti and Tungabhadra dams will assure farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu of good water availability in the coming year. Similarly, he said, with the Idduki reservoir being full, farmers in Kerala will not have to worry for the next two years.
“Over 4 million acres under planting in the Godavari and Krishna delta have also secured water. The main shortfall is under Nagarjuna Sagar, under which 2 million acres of agriculture land is covered across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh,” he said.
Reservoir water levels were above normal - the 10-year average - in Odisha, Tripura, Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The situation was grim in Gujarat and Telangana, while in Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, it was below normal.
One reservoir - Yeldari reservoir (second largest dam in MarathwadaNSE 0.00 % region) in Maharashtra - still doesn’t have any water, as per the CWC data.