The Hindu Business Line : Water storage level drops to 5-year low

Chennai, June 3 With the progress of monsoon stalling after having arrived eight days ahead, the storage position in the 81 major reservoirs in the country is at a five-year low, according to the Central Water Commission data.

The data, available till May 28, show that the current storage level in the reservoirs is 18.9 billion cubic metres (BCM) or 12 per cent of the reservoirs’ live capacity of 151.768 BCM.

Last year, the storage level was 21 per cent of the live capacity, while the average storage position in the last 10 years is 15 per cent. A similar level was witnessed in 2004.

A 34 per cent deficient rainfall for the period from March 1 to May 27 is the reason for the drop in storage level. During this period, the actual rainfall received was 82.5 mm against the normal 124.2 mm. Of the 36 meteorological sub-divisions, 11 received excess rainfall, while it was deficient or scanty in 24 and one did not receive any rainfall.

Only one reservoir, Gerusoppa, in Karnataka has a storage level of over 50 per cent. In fact, its storage level of 0.123 BCM is 95 per cent of the live storage of 0.13 BCM and higher than last year’s level of 90 per cent.

The data show that the storage level is above 40 per cent in only five reservoirs, with the level in Kakki, Kerala, being 48 per cent. This excludes Gerusoppa.

ZERO STORAGE

Among various States, the storage level is better than last year only in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh.

At least three reservoirs have zero storage level in Maharashtra (Bhima, Isapur and Yeldari), while in Andhra Pradesh the level is zero in Sriramsagar.

The storage level in Krishnaraja Sagar, an important reservoir for the rice delta in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, is zero as also Kabini, a tributary of the Cauvery.

As a result, the storage level in Mettur is only 23 per cent of the live capacity of 2.647 against 70 per cent last year. The situation in Vaigai is also a precarious five per cent, while the level in Sholayar is just one per cent.

In West Bengal, the Kangsbati reservoir has run dry as also Tripura’s Gumti reservoir.

The storage level is better in Orissa, Jharkhand and Kerala, where rains in the last week of May have helped. In particular, Idukki and Kakki reservoirs have gained with the levels being higher than last year.

Delay in sowing?

The current monsoon, which accounts for 80 per cent of the total rainfall the country receives in a year, hit the Kerala shores on May 23 but since then has had a halted progress.

With monsoon progress being tardy and water storage levels being lower than last year, kharif sowing could be delayed.

More Stories on : Water | Climate & Weather

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Bay ‘low’ put off by another day

Kharif farming

Arecanut being smuggled through Nepal, say traders

Higher tea volume on offer at Coonoor sales

Lack of buyers weakens spot rubber prices

Water storage level drops to 5-year low

EU to continue support for Oxfam project

Pepper futures rise