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Low water level in dams cause for concern

Gargi Parsai

Erratic monsoon results in drought in 299 districts in 13 States in Kharif season
Combined river water storage level in 81 major reservoirs lower than last year

NEW DELHI: The combined live water storage level in 81 major reservoirs is lower this year as on December 31, 2009. But what has set the alarm bells ringing in official circles is that the storage level in the crucial dams in North India — which had a 31 per cent deficient south-west monsoon rainfall during the kharif season — is about 40 per cent lower than normal.

The latest official data shows that the total live storage in 81 important reservoirs averaged 79.186 billion cubic meters (BCM) on December 31, 2009, compared to 82.173 BCM in the corresponding period last year.

Though the combined water level has risen from an average of 11 per cent at the beginning of the monsoon (June 1, 2009) to 52 per cent as on December 31, it remains below 50 per cent in 44 reservoirs.

An erratic and delayed south-west monsoon resulted in drought in 299 districts in 13 States during the 2009 kharif season. The Government is hoping that the estimated shortfall in rice, coarse cereals and edible oilseeds in kharif is made good in the ongoing rabi (wheat) season.

However, what is worrisome is that of the six crucial reservoirs in the Indus basin that are significant for the summer months and for the rabi (wheat) crop, five have a storage level of 40 per cent below their live capacities. The overall storage is less than normal in Punjab by 8 per cent, in Himachal Pradesh by 32 per cent and in Rajasthan by 43 per cent.

In Himachal, the Pong dam has 20 per cent storage of its live capacity against 63 per cent last year and the Gobind Sagar (Bhakra) has a current storage of 47 per cent compared to 72 per cent last year. The Thein reservoir in Punjab has a storage of 26 per cent as against 35 per cent last year. Significantly, these are the reservoirs that irrigate the rabi crop in the North including Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

In Rajasthan, only the Mahi Bajaj Sagar dam has a slightly higher storage than its live capacity in comparison to last year, while the Jhakam and Rana Pratap Sagar dams have a storage lower than last year.

The Rana Pratap Sagar dam has a storage of 16 per cent compared to 38 per cent in the corresponding period last year.

According to the Central Water Commission, of the 81 reservoirs that are monitored, 30 have water levels below 20 per cent, 14 a storage level of 50 per cent or less, seven 50 to 60 per cent and four of 60 to 70 per cent. The water storage level was 70 to 80 per cent only in five reservoirs in the country.

The Ganga, Indus, Tapi, Sabarmati, River of Kutch and Godavari are reported to be deficient. Mahi and Mahanadi and neighbouring east flowing rivers are said to be “close to normal.” However, the Narmada, Krishna, Cauvery and neighbouring east-flowing rivers and the west-flowing rivers of the South are “better than normal” basins.

The overall water storage is above normal in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Of the 36 reservoirs with significant hydropower generation, the storage build-up was less than normal in 19 reservoirs, which is also a matter of concern for power generation.

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