India is grappling with a severe water crisis as reservoir levels in 150 centrally monitored sites have plummeted to their lowest point in five years.
Official data reveals that the ongoing hot weather, compounded by a deficient monsoon in 2023, has drastically reduced water storage, exacerbating shortages across 16 states and significantly impacting hydro-power generation.
As of last week, water storage in these reservoirs stood at a mere 25% of their total live capacity, with just 45.2 billion cubic metres (BCM) available out of a possible 179 BCM. This marks a sharp decline from the 58 BCM recorded during the same period last year, according to data from the Central Water Commission. The ramifications of this water scarcity are dire. Major cities such as Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Chennai, and Hyderabad are facing severe drinking water shortages. Kerala is enduring its worst drought in four decades, severely affecting agriculture. The state’s horticulture board reports extensive damage to paddy, pepper, cardamom, vegetables, coffee, and cocoa crops. In Karnataka, dwindling water levels in the Cauvery basin have forced farmers to dig deeper wells as short-duration paddy crops wither.
In Hyderabad, the crisis has prompted Osmania University to close its hostels and messes due to the acute shortage of water and electricity. Similarly, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are on the brink of having several reservoirs run dry, while Bihar’s only reservoir has reached its dead-storage level, as has Uttarakhand’s Nanak Sagar. The hydro-power sector has not been spared, with generation plunging to a five-year low of 146 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh). Consequently, the share of hydro-power in the total power output has fallen to a record low of 8.3% for the year ending March 31.
The deficient rainfall in 2023 was primarily driven by the El Nino phenomenon, characterised by the abnormal warming of the Pacific Ocean, which typically brings dry weather to the Indian subcontinent. The southwest monsoon, responsible for 70% of India’s annual rainfall, was 6% below average, while the northeast monsoon, crucial for southern states, was 13% short.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast an above-normal monsoon for this year, predicting a surplus of 106%. However, the prolonged dry spell has severely depleted soil moisture levels, potentially delaying the sowing of crops for the upcoming kharif season. Adequate rainfall will be crucial to restore soil moisture and ensure a timely planting season, according to a state-run agricultural scientist. The June-September monsoon season is vital for India’s agrarian economy, with nearly half of the country’s net-sown area depending heavily on these rains. The ongoing water crisis underscores the urgent need for sustainable water management practices to safeguard the livelihoods of millions who depend on agriculture. As India braces for the summer monsoon, the nation’s resilience will be tested by the dual challenges of climate variability and water resource management.
