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 31% of the designed capacity as on January 24,
2003. The present storage is 73% of last year’s storage and 58%
of last 10 years’ average storage during the same period. Out
of these 70 reservoirs there are presently 49 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
Tapi and Mahanadi and neighbouring east flowing rivers. The basinwise
storage position is less than 80% of average of previous 10 years
Ganga, Indus, Narmada, 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 22 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.
