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India’s water reserves have slipped below the seasonal average for the first time this monsoon, even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has ruled out any significant or widespread rainfall across most parts of the country over the next week, raising concerns over water availability and the progress of the kharif season.
Water storage in the country’s 166 major reservoirs stood at 34.46% of total capacity as of July 16, falling below the normal level of 35.10%. Reservoirs were at 56.63% on the same date last year, highlighting the impact of the prolonged weak monsoon.
The IMD told CNBC-TV18 that rainfall activity over Mumbai and Maharashtra, which was expected to intensify from July 17, has now been pushed back by another four to five days.
The delay is due to a weak low-pressure area over the Odisha coast and the Bay of Bengal. While the system has formed, it is not strong enough to trigger meaningful rainfall over Maharashtra and neighbouring regions.
According to the weather office, rainfall activity may pick up after July 21 or 22, but the increase is expected to be only moderate, with no strong or significant rainfall likely.
The outlook is equally subdued for the rest of the country.
For the week ending July 22, the IMD has forecast normal to above-normal rainfall only over most parts of East and Northeast India. The remaining parts of the country are expected to receive below-normal rainfall.
The trend is likely to continue during July 23–29, with near-normal to above-normal rainfall confined to parts of East and Central India, while most other regions are expected to remain rain-deficient.
The weak monsoon has already been reflected in rainfall statistics. India received 51% below-normal rainfall between July 9 and July 15. Since the start of the southwest monsoon on June 1, cumulative rainfall across the country remains 23% below the Long Period Average (LPA).
The impact is increasingly visible in reservoir storage across key states.
Maharashtra’s reservoirs are currently filled to 44.56%, compared with 60.53% a year ago. Mumbai’s seven lakes, which supply drinking water to the financial capital, were at 49.79% of capacity as of July 17, sharply lower than 80.96% on the same date last year, though higher than 37.77% recorded in 2024.
The subdued monsoon has also slowed kharif sowing.
As of July 10, farmers had sown 531.25 lakh hectares, compared with 632.69 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year, leaving the total sown area 16.03% lower year-on-year.
In Maharashtra, kharif sowing, excluding sugarcane, stood at 86.92 lakh hectares, or 60% of the normal area, as of July 13. This compares with 120.65 lakh hectares, or 84% of the normal area, during the same period last year.
The Maharashtra government said a preliminary assessment as of July 13 showed that 6,673 hectares of agricultural and horticultural crops had been affected by excessive rainfall, strong winds, and hailstorms during July. Re-transplanting of paddy has begun in some areas, sowing operations are gradually gaining momentum, and most sown crops are currently in the germination-to-seedling stage.
With reservoir levels now slipping below normal and no widespread rainfall in sight, the coming fortnight will be crucial for replenishing water stocks and accelerating kharif sowing across large parts of the country.
Also Read: IMD forecast for July 14-20: East, Northeast India and Odisha brace for heavy rain
Water storage in the country’s 166 major reservoirs stood at 34.46% of total capacity as of July 16, falling below the normal level of 35.10%. Reservoirs were at 56.63% on the same date last year, highlighting the impact of the prolonged weak monsoon.
The IMD told CNBC-TV18 that rainfall activity over Mumbai and Maharashtra, which was expected to intensify from July 17, has now been pushed back by another four to five days.
The delay is due to a weak low-pressure area over the Odisha coast and the Bay of Bengal. While the system has formed, it is not strong enough to trigger meaningful rainfall over Maharashtra and neighbouring regions.
According to the weather office, rainfall activity may pick up after July 21 or 22, but the increase is expected to be only moderate, with no strong or significant rainfall likely.
The outlook is equally subdued for the rest of the country.
For the week ending July 22, the IMD has forecast normal to above-normal rainfall only over most parts of East and Northeast India. The remaining parts of the country are expected to receive below-normal rainfall.
The trend is likely to continue during July 23–29, with near-normal to above-normal rainfall confined to parts of East and Central India, while most other regions are expected to remain rain-deficient.
The weak monsoon has already been reflected in rainfall statistics. India received 51% below-normal rainfall between July 9 and July 15. Since the start of the southwest monsoon on June 1, cumulative rainfall across the country remains 23% below the Long Period Average (LPA).
The impact is increasingly visible in reservoir storage across key states.
Maharashtra’s reservoirs are currently filled to 44.56%, compared with 60.53% a year ago. Mumbai’s seven lakes, which supply drinking water to the financial capital, were at 49.79% of capacity as of July 17, sharply lower than 80.96% on the same date last year, though higher than 37.77% recorded in 2024.
The subdued monsoon has also slowed kharif sowing.
As of July 10, farmers had sown 531.25 lakh hectares, compared with 632.69 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year, leaving the total sown area 16.03% lower year-on-year.
In Maharashtra, kharif sowing, excluding sugarcane, stood at 86.92 lakh hectares, or 60% of the normal area, as of July 13. This compares with 120.65 lakh hectares, or 84% of the normal area, during the same period last year.
The Maharashtra government said a preliminary assessment as of July 13 showed that 6,673 hectares of agricultural and horticultural crops had been affected by excessive rainfall, strong winds, and hailstorms during July. Re-transplanting of paddy has begun in some areas, sowing operations are gradually gaining momentum, and most sown crops are currently in the germination-to-seedling stage.
With reservoir levels now slipping below normal and no widespread rainfall in sight, the coming fortnight will be crucial for replenishing water stocks and accelerating kharif sowing across large parts of the country.
Also Read: IMD forecast for July 14-20: East, Northeast India and Odisha brace for heavy rain
