Reservoir levels recover, but water storage remains below normal
Reservoir Recovery Offers Relief, but Regional Gaps Persist
Theindiapostdaily.com – Improving rainfall in recent weeks has lifted water levels in many of India’s key reservoirs, offering some encouragement for the coming rabi season and for hydropower output. The national position, however, remains below the long-term benchmark, while the north and south continue to face notably weaker storage than usual.
As of 10 September, the 178 reservoirs monitored by the Central Water Commission contained 130.55 billion cubic metres (BCM) of water. That equals 70.66% of their combined live storage capacity. Even after the recent improvement, the level was 6.9% below normal and 20.1% lower than at the same point a year earlier.
The uneven regional pattern is especially important for agriculture. Reservoir supplies become increasingly valuable as farmers prepare rabi crops, and irrigation availability can influence planting decisions and output. The issue comes as food inflation rose to 5.95% in August from 5.52% in the previous reading released by the National Statistics Office.
West and Central India Move Above Normal
Western India showed the strongest reservoir position among the major regions. The 58 reservoirs in Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra held 31.575 BCM, or 81.79% of live capacity. This was above the region’s normal storage level of 77.81%, though still below the 91.35% seen a year earlier.
Central India also moved ahead of its usual seasonal level. Reservoirs in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand held 40.613 BCM across 28 projects. Storage stood at 83.59% of capacity, compared with a normal level of 79.5%.
In the east, 31 monitored reservoirs contained 15.247 BCM, equivalent to 69.77% of capacity. That was only slightly higher than the region’s normal 69.6% level, but it nonetheless marked a more favourable position than in parts of the country still facing substantial deficits.
North and South Remain Vulnerable
The contrast is sharper in northern and southern India. The north’s 11 reservoirs held 12.652 BCM, or 63.78% of capacity, well below the normal 78.53%. Southern India’s 50 reservoirs contained 30.467 BCM, equal to 54.52% of capacity, compared with a normal seasonal level of 73%.
“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,” said Sudhir Panwar, farm policy expert and former member of Uttar Pradesh Planning Commission.
For farmers, the headline national number does not tell the whole story. Areas with stronger canal networks, groundwater access or other irrigation systems may be better placed to manage uneven reservoir conditions. Districts that depend more directly on stored surface water could face tighter choices if replenishment slows after the monsoon withdrawal.
Marked Improvement Since Mid-August
The latest reading represents a clear improvement from 13 August, when storage was weaker across much of the country. Northern reservoirs were then at 50.5% of capacity, against a normal 62%. In the south, storage stood at 54.8%, below its normal level of 64.3%.
Central India’s reservoirs were 57% full in mid-August, holding 27.70 BCM against a normal level of 60.5%. The eastern region was already marginally ahead of normal, with 11.06 BCM in storage, or 50.8% of capacity, compared with 48.4% normally.
Western India was the strongest performer even then. Its reservoirs were at 78.78% of capacity, holding 30.01 BCM, while the long-term normal for that date was 62.83%.
The gains since August underline how quickly reservoir conditions can shift when rain reaches key catchment areas. Yet the national total remains below both normal and last year’s level, leaving limited room for complacency as the seasonal rain cycle moves toward its final phase.
Monsoon Still Running Below Seasonal Norm
Recent rains have supported the rise in storage, but cumulative monsoon rainfall remains deficient. India received 213.3 mm of rain in August, compared with a normal 254.9 mm.
From 1 June through 12 September, rainfall totalled 662.3 mm against a normal 778.6 mm, leaving a 15% shortfall. June rainfall was 35.4% below normal, July was 1% above normal, and August was 16.3% below normal.
September is also expected to be relatively weak, with rainfall likely to remain below 91% of the long-period average. The September long-period average, calculated using the 1971-2020 climate record, is 167.9 mm.
That outlook matters because late-season rainfall can still influence catchments and determine how much water is available when irrigation demand rises after the monsoon. It can also shape the scale of the seasonal handover from rain-fed power generation to other sources.
Hydropower Could Get a Short-Term Lift
Higher reservoir levels may improve hydropower production in the near term. Hydropower generation fell 11% year-on-year during April-August, adding pressure to a power system already dealing with weaker coal production and rain-related disruption to coal supplies.
Hydroelectric output often helps meet demand when thermal generation faces constraints. This year, lower hydropower availability and weaker coal production contributed to daily energy shortages exceeding 25 million units in September, as recorded by Grid Controller of India.
“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,” said Raj Kumar Chaudhary, former chairman and managing director, NHPC Ltd.
Any improvement may prove temporary. As the monsoon retreats, hydropower typically enters a leaner period. Winter rainfall could change that trajectory and support additional generation, as occurred in 2025, but reservoir recovery during the final weeks of the monsoon will remain a key factor for both irrigation and electricity supply.
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