The Central Water Commission (CWC) released its weekly bulletin on Thursday, revealing a significant reduction in water storage across 150 reservoirs in India, with southern states facing a particularly acute shortage.
The CWC's report shows that the current live storage available in these reservoirs is 39.765 billion cubic metres (BCM), which is 22% of the total capacity. This is a decrease from 50.549 BCM recorded last year and is also below the 10-year average of 42.727 BCM. The data underscores the growing water crisis in India, marked by long queues for water, heat exhaustion, and inter-state disputes.
While northern states like those in the Ganga river basin have slightly more water capacity than the average over the past decade, they still face challenges with reservoir capacities. Notably, Himachal Pradesh is identified as having better storage levels than in the last 10 years, although the state was ordered by the Supreme Court on Thursday to release water to Delhi. Delhi's water crisis is exacerbated by its reliance on Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, compounded by the underutilization of surface water bodies like lakes and ponds. A 2023 report by the Ministry of Jal Shakti indicated that 73.5% of surface water bodies in Delhi are unusable due to pollution and drying up.
Southern states are experiencing even more severe shortages. The current storage in southern reservoirs has plummeted to 13% of capacity, down from 23% last year. Rivers like the Cauvery and Krishna are drying up, and deficient basin capacities are exacerbating the situation. Cities like Bengaluru have implemented measures such as a two-day water supply cut to manage the scarcity.
Inter-state water sharing disputes, particularly over the Cauvery dam, continue to strain relations between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, further complicating water management in the region.
The CWC's bulletin highlights the urgent need for sustainable water management practices and inter-state cooperation to address the growing crisis. As the country grapples with these challenges, effective measures and policies are crucial to ensuring water security for all regions.
