Facebook Pixel Code

Water level in reservoirs continues to recede

With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting no respite from heat wave conditions prevailing in parts of the country in next few days, the water level at key reservoirs continues to fall.

After two successive years of deficient monsoon (2014 and 2015), the IMD recently predicted ‘above normal’ rainfall this year at 106% of the benchmark long period average (LPA), with a model error of ± 5%.
After two successive years of deficient monsoon (2014 and 2015), the IMD recently predicted ‘above normal’ rainfall this year at 106% of the benchmark long period average (LPA), with a model error of ± 5%.

With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting no respite from heat wave conditions prevailing in parts of the country in next few days, the water level at key reservoirs continues to fall.

“Heat wave conditions (are) very likely at a few places over Jharkhand, Vidarbha, Telangana, Rayalaseema and at isolated places over Bihar, Gangetic West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and north interior Karnataka,” the IMD stated in its latest weather bulletin.

Till Thursday, water reserves in the country’s 91-odd major reservoirs were lower by almost a third than a year ago, while the 10-year average reserves level is 29% of the installed reservoir capacity, only 22% of that capacity is filled up with water now, as against 33% a year ago.

“The overall storage position is less than the corresponding period of last year in the country as a whole and is also less than the average storage of last ten years during the corresponding period,” according to a statement from the Central Water Commission.

Gr

The depleted water storage has already impacted hydro power generation. It could have an adverse impact on agriculture and drinking water supplies during next few months as monsoon is expected to hit the Kerala coast only by early June. According to the agriculture ministry’s second advance estimate, the country’s food grain production in 2015-16 is pegged at 253.2 million tonne (mt), compared with 252 mt in 2014-15.

As per the ministry of water resources data, storage in the 91 reservoirs has declined to 34.08 billion cubic metre (bcm), against 51.12 bcm a year ago; the 10-year average at this point of time is 44.92 bcm.

The water level is the lowest in 31 reservoirs in southern India and 27 in Gujarat and Maharashtra. In reservoirs in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the total live storage available was only 6.98 bcm, 14% of the capacity. In reservoirs in Gujarat and Maharashtra, the total live storage available is 5.02 bcm or 19% of the capacity. The water commission monitors storage status of 91 reservoirs of which 37 have hydro power utilities.

After two successive years of deficient monsoon (2014 and 2015), the IMD recently predicted ‘above normal’ rainfall this year at 106% of the benchmark long period average (LPA), with a model error of ± 5%.

“There is a 94% probability that southwest monsoon will be above normal to excess. There is just 6% chance of monsoon being poor,” LS Rathore, director general of the IMD, said in a press conference. He predicted that rainfall during monsoon months (June-September) would be well spread out.

Meanwhile, an advisory by IMD for Andha Pradesh and Telangana farmers has urged them to provide light irrigation through drip or the check basin method on mango, banana, sweet orange and vegetable fields. “Karnataka dry land farmers may take up land preparation across the slope for pre-monsoon sowing after receipt of sufficient rain,” the IMD advisory has noted.

For Punjab and Haryana, the advisory has suggested farmers to continue sowing of cotton, summer moong, okra, spring maize and planting of sugarcane.

Get live Share Market updates, Stock Market Quotes, and the latest India News and business news on Financial Express. Download the Financial Express App for the latest finance news.

First published on: 25-04-2016 at 06:25 IST
Market Data
Market Data
Today’s Most Popular Stories ×