Rising Concern Over Declining Water Levels in Dams

20-Mar-2026 03:35 PM

New Delhi. With the possibility of the El Niño weather cycle remaining active during the July-September period, monsoon rainfall is likely to be impacted; however, even prior to this, the continuously declining water levels in the country's major dams and reservoirs have already sparked serious concern.

The situation is such that, out of the country's 166 major dams and reservoirs, only the Jakhet Dam in Jharkhand currently holds water stock equivalent to its full storage capacity; another 18 reservoirs hold more than 80 percent of their capacity, while the water levels in the remaining dams have dropped significantly low.

Water stocks in reservoirs across the western, eastern, and central regions of the country exceed 50 percent, whereas in South India, water levels have fallen below last year's figures.

An interesting fact, however, is that at the national level, the water stock in dams and reservoirs remains 13.5 percentage points higher than last year and 26 percentage points above the ten-year average. Currently, rainfall continues across several states of the country, though it is not heavy in intensity.