India’s Reservoirs Fall Below Half Capacity: CWC Data

Syllabus: GS2/Governance; GS3/Water Conservation

Context

• The Central Water Commission (CWC), which monitors 166 reservoirs and 20 river basins across India, has flagged a sharp decline in water levels in its latest data.

About

• The total live storage capacity of the 166 reservoirs monitored by the CWC is 183.565 billion cubic metres (BCM), accounting for about 71.2% of the country’s estimated total capacity of 257.812 BCM.
• Water levels in India’s major reservoirs have fallen to below 45% of total capacity.
  • Several reservoirs have reached critically low or zero levels.
• Most of India’s 20 river basins are now operating between 30% and 60% of capacity, with only a few above that range. In Bihar, the Chandan dam has run completely dry.
• Southern India has seen the steepest drop, raising concerns ahead of peak summer.
• Overall, the data suggests a widespread decline in water levels, with the risk of a summer water shortage rising, particularly in the south and west.

Water reservoirs

• Water reservoirs are natural or artificial storage spaces where water is collected and stored for future use.
  • They include rivers, lakes, glaciers, groundwater aquifers, dam reservoirs, tanks, and canals.
  • They play a crucial role in ensuring a steady supply of water for various purposes.
• Reasons for Decline in Capacity: 
  • Siltation (Sediment Deposition): Accumulation of silt and debris reduces storage capacity over time.
  • Catchment Area Degradation: Deforestation, mining, and overgrazing increase soil erosion and sediment inflow.
  • Encroachment & Urbanisation: Illegal occupation of reservoir areas and feeder channels reduces effective storage.
  • Eutrophication & Aquatic Weeds: Nutrient pollution leads to excessive growth of algae and weeds, occupying space.
  • Climate Variability: Erratic rainfall and droughts reduce inflow and accelerate sedimentation.

Water scarcity in India

• India has 18% of the world’s population but only 4% of its freshwater. 
• The World Bank calls India one of the most water-stressed countries. 
  • Many parts of India could face severe water scarcity by 2040 because of growing demand, poor management, and climate change.
• According to the Annual Ground Water Quality Report 2024 by the Central Groundwater Board (CGWB), the average stage of groundwater extraction in India stands at 60.4%.

Major Causes of Water Scarcity

• Rapid urbanisation and industrialisation have led to increased pollution of water bodies, making them unfit for consumption. 
• Inefficient agricultural practices and excessive groundwater extraction have depleted crucial water sources. 
• Climate change further aggravates the situation, causing irregular rainfall patterns and affecting the recharge of rivers and aquifers. 
• Poor water management and lack of proper infrastructure also play a significant role in exacerbating the crisis.

Water Governance in India

• Constitutional Provisions
  • State Subject: Water is primarily under Entry 17 of State List (Seventh Schedule).
  • Union Role: Regulation of inter-state rivers under Entry 56 of Union List.
  • Article 262: Parliament can adjudicate inter-state water disputes.

Key Issues in Water Governance in India

• Fragmented Institutional Framework: Water governance in India is highly fragmented due to its placement in the State List, which leads to jurisdictional conflicts between states.
• Predominance of Engineering-Centric Approach: Water management policies in India have historically focused on large-scale infrastructure such as dams, canals, and irrigation systems.
  • This approach prioritises supply augmentation while neglecting ecological sustainability and demand management.
• Agricultural Policies: Agricultural policies promoting water-intensive crops such as rice and wheat have led to excessive groundwater extraction.
• Lack of Ecosystem-Based Approach: Water governance does not adequately incorporate the interlinkages between land, water, and ecosystems.
  • Environmental flows (e-flows) are often ignored, leading to degradation of rivers and wetlands.
• Weak Data Systems: There is a lack of reliable, comprehensive, and accessible water data across the country.
  • This leads to poor planning, inefficient allocation, and unregulated extraction of water resources.
• Neglect of Demand-Side Management: Water policies largely focus on increasing supply rather than managing demand.
  • Limited attention is given to water-use efficiency, conservation practices, and rational pricing.
• Upcoming concerns: India’s data centre boom confronts a water challenge as predictions state that 60–80% of India’s data centres will face high water stress this decade.
  • Most of these centres are built in cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, places where water is already in short supply.

Government Initiatives

• Jal Shakti Abhiyan (2019): Focuses on water conservation and groundwater recharge in water-stressed districts.
• AMRUT 2.0 scheme was launched in the 2021 in all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)/ cities, enabling the cities to become ‘self-reliant’ and ‘water secure’.
  • Rejuvenation of water bodies and development of green spaces and parks are other components of the mission.
• Amrit Sarovar Mission: Aims to develop and rejuvenate 75 water bodies per district.
• National Aquifer Mapping Program (NAQUIM): Helps delineate and understand aquifers for sustainable management.
• Atal Bhujal Yojana, was launched to improve groundwater management in priority areas with critical and overexploited blocks.
• Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): To enable every rural household in the country to have assured potable water; since 2019, Government in partnership with states, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
  • This initiative facilitates adequate quantities of prescribed quality water on a regular and long-term basis, through tap water connection.

Conclusion

• There is a need to move from a fragmented and engineering-dominated approach to a comprehensive governance framework.
• Water must be treated as a shared and finite resource, requiring coordinated management across sectors.
• The focus should shift from supply augmentation to sustainability, efficiency, and equity.

Source: DTE