New Delhi: India's delayed and weak monsoon has started affecting water storage levels across the country. According to the latest data from the Central
Water Commission's Reservoir Storage Monitoring System, water available in 166 major reservoirs has fallen to around 28% of their total storage capacity. The decline comes as India faces a nearly 40% deficit in cumulative monsoon rainfall so far this season. While current reservoir levels are still slightly higher than the average storage recorded during the same period over the past 10 years, the trend is becoming a concern. These reservoirs play a crucial role in supplying water for irrigation, drinking purposes, industries and hydroelectric power generation. If the monsoon continues to progress slowly, storage levels could fall further, affecting farming and water availability in several regions. Of the 166 reservoirs being monitored, 20 are linked to major hydroelectric projects, including Gobind Sagar in Himachal Pradesh, Thein Dam in Punjab, Rana Pratap Sagar in Rajasthan, Hirakud in Odisha, Panchet Hill in Jharkhand, Ukai and Sardar Sarovar in Gujarat, and Pench in Maharashtra. Regional data shows a mixed picture. Reservoirs in northern and central India are performing better than they were at the same time last year. However, water levels in reservoirs across eastern, western and southern India have declined significantly. State-wise, reservoirs in Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have higher storage levels than a year ago. In contrast, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura and West Bengal are reporting lower storage levels compared with last year. The situation contrasts sharply with 2025, when the southwest monsoon arrived over Kerala eight days ahead of schedule and advanced rapidly across the country, helping reservoirs fill up early. This year, the monsoon reached Kerala three days late and has remained sluggish, limiting inflows into reservoirs.
