MC Daily Monsoon Tracker: Reservoir levels rise further to 19% above 10-year average

Rainfall surplus ensures higher reservoir levels

India’s reservoir levels rose further to 19 percent above the 10-year average on August 29, compared with 12 percent a week ago, according to data released by Central Water Commission.

The rise in storage capacity in the reservoirs has largely been contributed by the South and the West, which are at 30 percent capacity over normal. Water levels in Gujarat and Maharashtra were 36 percent over normal on August 29.

Northern and eastern parts of the country, on the other hand, saw reservoir levels 24 percent and 7 percent below normal, thanks to sustained deficit in rainfall.

Rainfall surplus in the country as a whole widened to 6.92 percent from normal as of August 29, compared with 6.8 percent a day before.

Eight states, four each in northern and eastern parts of the country, continued to experience deficient rainfall conditions. Nagaland and Punjab had the highest rainfall deficit of 28 percent and 27 percent.

Kharif acreage was 1.9 percent higher than the previous year as on August 27, while rice acreage was 4.3 percent above the 2023 levels and pulses at 5.7 percent higher.

Pulses inflation remained in double digits for nearly a year now.

Jute and cotton sowing was 10 percent lower than 2023 until August 27.