2 months of monsoon, yet over 50% of Indian key reservoirs are half-empty

File Photo: A view of the dry land amid water shortage near Sathiyar Dam at Palamedu area, in Madurai.

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Over 50 per cent of India’s 166 major reservoirs continue to be half-empty even as two months of the South-West monsoon draws to an end. According to the Central Water Commission, storage in 71 reservoirs is less than 40 per cent of the capacity. This week, the level in major reservoirs improved further to 44 per cent of the 183.565 billion cubic metres (BCM) capacity at 81.479 BCM. Storage is above 50 per cent only in the western region of the five regions in the country. The southern region’s reservoirs are filled to 34 per cent of the capacity. Reservoir levels have improved this month as the South-West monsoon revived after a 37 per cent deficit in June. However, the monsoon is still 14 per cent lower than normal.With a deep depression over the central parts of the country likely to bring more heavy rainfall over other regions, storage will likely increase in the coming weeks.We present the key data of the reservoirs level in graphics below.Published on July 31, 2026