India water storage situation is showing signs of increasing stress, with reservoir levels in several states falling below critical levels ahead of the monsoon season. According to the latest weekly bulletin released by the Central Water Commission on April 30, water storage in 166 monitored reservoirs has dropped to 38.72 per cent of total capacity, down from 44.71 per cent recorded earlier in April.
The decline has raised concern across multiple regions, particularly in eastern, northeastern and southern India, where several reservoirs and river basins are now operating below normal levels.
The Central Water Commission monitors 166 reservoirs across the country including 20 linked to hydropower projects. Together these reservoirs have a live storage capacity of 183.565 billion cubic metres, representing over 71 per cent of the country total estimated reservoir capacity.
As of April 30, the total live storage available stood at 71.082 billion cubic metres. While this remains higher than the storage recorded during the same period last year and above the 10 year average the month on month decline has become significant.
Among the worst affected states, Assam recorded reservoir depletion of nearly 43 per cent below normal levels. Tripura’s reservoirs declined by around 42 per cent, while West Bengal saw water storage fall by approximately 58 per cent. Many reservoirs in these states are currently below the 40 per cent mark.
Southern India despite overall storage remaining slightly above average, is also facing pressure in several key states. Karnataka has reported nearly 14 per cent less water storage than normal while Tamil Nadu has recorded a decline of almost 22 per cent, increasing stress on the Cauvery basin. Kerala has also witnessed a gradual decline in reservoir levels.
The report noted that 36 reservoirs in southern India are currently below 40 per cent capacity, the highest number among all regions in the country.
Several major reservoirs have entered particularly alarming territory. Khandong reservoir in Assam is operating at just over 21 per cent of normal storage levels, while Chandan Dam in Jharkhand has effectively reached zero storage. Tamil Nadu’s Vaigai reservoir has dropped to nearly 15 per cent of normal capacity, and Periyar reservoir in Kerala is below 30 per cent.
The situation is also worsening across major river basins. The Krishna basin, which was already under pressure earlier in April, has declined further to nearly 22.55 per cent storage. The Godavari basin has fallen to 40.69 per cent, while the Narmada basin has slipped below 39 per cent.
The Cauvery basin is also showing declining trends, with water storage dropping to 35.74 per cent. The Barak basin in the northeast remains among the most vulnerable, continuing to show a significant deficit compared to normal levels.
Experts say the falling reservoir levels highlight the growing regional imbalance in water availability as India approaches the peak summer season. Rising temperatures, uneven rainfall patterns and increasing water demand are adding pressure on reservoirs that are already struggling to recover before the arrival of the southwest monsoon.
Officials and water management experts are now closely monitoring the situation, especially in regions dependent on reservoir fed irrigation and drinking water supply systems, where prolonged shortages could affect agriculture and urban water availability in the coming weeks.