70% drop in water level of Indian reservoirs.

In 150 major reservoirs of India water level has gone below  70% of the capacity. Also, storage in 14 states has reached below the usual level this week. The data says that among the 14 states where the water level is below normal, storage is a matter of concern in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. According to media reports, Central Water Commission’s weekly bulletin on live storage says that last thursday (November 9), the storage in major reservoirs was 124.24 billion cubic metres (BCM) or 69% of the live capacity of 178.784 BCM. This level is lower than the average of last year as well as of the last ten years. Last week the storacity was 71%.

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 32% less rain in the month of august and low storage level after monsoon. According to weather department, out of 712 districts from where the data has been collected, in 64% districts there has been no rainfall or very less rainfall. Also, short post-monsoon year and falling water level in water reservoirs may impact the yield of Rabi crops, especially rice, mustard, gram and wheat. 

GUJARAT STATE IS SPECIAL

The data says that among the 14 states where the water level is below normal, storage is a matter of concern in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. Gujarat is the only state where sufficient amount of water is available. At the same time, storage level is 31% greater than normal level. Also, the level of 15 reservoirs in India is upto 50% of normal storage. Also, 150 have 80% or more than the normal storage. The water level in the southern part remains at the same level as the last week 45% below than the normal which is 44%. Of the 42 reservoirs in the region, the level in 12 is below 40% of the normal storage, while in 8 areas it is between 40% and 50%.

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WHAT EFFECT DOES EL NINO HAVE ON MONSOONS?

One of the reasons for less rainfall this year is the occurrence of El Nino, as a result of which August received the least rainfall since 1901. The sixth-lowest rainfall since 1901 was recorded in October. According to a European weather agency, January-October this year has been the hottest on record. The US weather agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says that at least 21 percent of India was in the grip of drought by the end of September. The Weather Department has issued a direct advisory.