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Rainfall Deficit and Irrigation and Power Concerns
Water Crisis Looms Over the North, East
Context: Reservoir water levels in northern and eastern India have fallen significantly below last year’s levels and remain below the 10-year average, the Central Water Commission (CWC) revealed in its latest weekly bulletin.
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- This decline, driven by deficient winter and early spring rainfall, poses serious challenges for irrigation, hydropower generation, and rural livelihoods in the affected regions.
Northern Region Reservoir Storage Plummets to 22.96%
- As of April 3, 2025, the total live storage in 11 major reservoirs across the northern states—Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan—stood at just 4.555 billion cubic metres (BCM), or 22.96% of their collective storage capacity of 19.836 BCM.
- This is a sharp drop compared to 32.32% recorded during the same period in 2024.
- While the overall national reservoir storage remains higher than last year, the northern and eastern regions have experienced a clear decline, according to the CWC.
Central Water Commission (CWC)
It is India’s premier technical organisation in water resource management, functioning under the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation. Established in 1945, it advises the central and state governments on water resource development and management.
Key Functions
- Basin Planning & Management: Coordinates interstate river basin planning and resolves water-related disputes between states or countries.
- Project Appraisal: Technically and financially evaluates water resource projects (e.g., dams, irrigation systems) to ensure feasibility.
- Flood Management: Operates flood forecasting systems, monitors flood-prone areas, and manages the Central Flood Control Room during monsoons.
- Dam Safety: Oversees structural integrity and safety protocols for dams nationwide.
- Hydrological Data Collection: Compiles rainfall, river flow, and water quality data to inform policy and projects.
- Infrastructure Design: Handles civil, structural, and hydro-mechanical design of water resource projects.
Eastern India Reservoir Storage Falls to 37.64%
- The eastern region—comprising Assam, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Tripura, and Nagaland—also witnessed a sharp drop.
- Out of a total live storage capacity of 21.655 BCM in 27 key reservoirs, only 8.15 BCM (37.64%) was available as of April 3.
- This is down from 47.08% in the same period last year and below the 10-year average of 44.85%.
- Reservoir levels in these states are crucial for agriculture and power supply, especially as heatwaves and rising temperatures intensify water demand.
Deficit Rainfall Behind Reservoir Decline
- The current water stress is largely attributed to a severe rainfall deficit across winter and early spring.
- India received only 20.1 mm of rainfall in March 2025, which is 33% below the Long Period Average (LPA) of 29.9 mm.
- February’s rainfall was also down 30% at 15.9 mm against the LPA of 22.7 mm.
- In January, rainfall dropped a staggering 71% below the LPA of 17.1 mm.
- According to experts, the cumulative impact of consecutive months of weak precipitation is being felt most acutely in regions already vulnerable to water scarcity and climate extremes.
Western, Central, and Southern Regions Show Stable Storage
- In contrast, reservoir storage levels in western, central, and southern India are currently better than both last year’s levels and the normal 10-year average, offering some relief to those regions.
- However, experts warn that the overall trend of rainfall variability and declining water availability could eventually affect even these relatively stable areas if proactive water management policies are not adopted nationwide.
