LIVE STORAGE POSITION OF 70 IMPORTANT RESERVOIRS IN THE COUNTRY

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The Central Water Commission (CWC) monitors storage position of 70 major and important reservoirs spread over the country of which 26 reservoirs have significant hydro-power benefit with installed capacities of more than 60 MW each. The combined storage capacity of these reservoirs at the beginning of the monsoon was 13% of their designed capacity and is presently 37% of the designed capacity as on December 27, 2002. The present storage is 72% of last year’s storage and 59% of last 10 years’ average storage during the same period. Out of these 70 reservoirs there are presently 46 reservoirs where this year’s storage is 80% or less than the average of previous 10 years.

The basinwise storage position is better than average of previous 10 years in River of Kutch and 80% or more than average of previous 10 years in Narmada, Tapi and Mahanadi and neighbouring east flowing rivers. The basinwise storage position is less than 80% of average of previous 10 years Ganga, Indus, Mahi, Sabarmati, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery and neighbouring east flowing rivers and west flowing rivers of South.

Out of 26 reservoirs with significant hydro potential, there are 23 reservoirs, which have storage build up less than the average of last 10 years.

In order to derive the best possible benefits from the available water. CWC is keeping in touch with the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation and providing information of the weekly storage position to the Crop Weather Watch Group for evolving suitable crop strategies and also apprising the situation to various Departments and Ministries involved in Water Resources Planning.