Key reservoirs across northern India are currently holding water levels significantly above seasonal averages as the summer season begins, offering a potential buffer against the anticipated below-normal monsoon rainfall for the year.
The Chenab Times has learned that data from the Central Water Commission (CWC) indicates that reservoirs in Himachal Pradesh are 39 per cent above normal storage, while Punjab’s sole major reservoir shows a surplus of 58 per cent above normal for this period. Rajasthan, which relies heavily on water resources originating from Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, also reports its seven monitored reservoirs are holding 31 per cent more water than usual.
This development comes as private weather forecaster Skymet has predicted a below-normal monsoon season for India in 2026, projecting rainfall at 94 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA). This forecast is attributed to the developing El Nino phenomenon, characterized by unusual warming of surface waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
While rainfall in June is expected to be near the LPA, with projections at 101 per cent, Skymet forecasts a weakening of monsoon activity in August and September. Such a decline could have significant implications for the country’s agricultural sector, which is heavily dependent on monsoon rains, and also impact power generation reliant on water resources.
The distribution of water released from these dams for drinking and agricultural purposes is governed by mutually agreed-upon formulas among the stakeholder states, including Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi, taking into account availability and demand.
The typical filling season for reservoirs in the northern region spans from mid-April to September. Some reservoirs are primarily replenished by snowmelt during the summer months, while others depend more directly on rainfall. During the winter season, characterized by minimal snowmelt and limited rainfall, reservoir inflows tend to be considerably low.
Specific data for major reservoirs highlights the current storage situation. At the Bhakra Dam, situated on the Sutlej River in Himachal Pradesh, current storage stands at approximately 2.32 billion cubic meters (BCM) against its total capacity of 6.23 BCM, representing 37.17 per cent of its full capacity. This figure is a notable increase compared to last year, when storage was only 19.14 per cent, and also surpasses the past 10-year average of 26.40 per cent.
Similarly, the Pong Dam on the Beas River in Himachal Pradesh is holding 2.32 BCM of water against its total capacity of 6.16 BCM, which equates to 37.72 per cent of its capacity. Last year at this time, storage was at 12.29 per cent, and the past 10-year average for this period is 27.35 per cent.
Kol Dam, located upstream of Bhakra Dam, with a comparatively smaller storage capacity, is currently at 0.069 BCM against its top level of 0.089 BCM, indicating 77.35 per cent of its capacity. This is slightly down from 80.35 per cent last year but remains significantly higher than its past 10-year average of 62.54 per cent.
In Punjab, the Thein Dam on the Ravi River is currently 61.69 per cent full, with water storage at 1.45 BCM out of its total capacity of 2.34 BCM. This contrasts sharply with last year’s storage of 17.58 per cent and the past 10-year average of 38.93 per cent, according to CWC data.
Operational responsibilities for these critical water infrastructure assets are divided. The Bhakra and Pong dams are managed by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). Kol Dam is controlled by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). The Thein Dam is owned and operated by the Punjab Irrigation Department.
These dams play a crucial role in regional development. The combined hydel power generation capacity of dams in Himachal Pradesh is 2,577 MW, with an irrigation potential covering 676 thousand hectares. Thein Dam contributes 600 MW of hydel power and supports an irrigation potential of 348 thousand hectares. The seven reservoirs monitored by CWC in Rajasthan provide irrigation for 476 thousand hectares and have a combined power generation capacity of 312 MW.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
