CWC data shows Telangana reservoirs below normal, with Nagarjunasagar and Singur at lowest

Major reservoir systems in Telangana are holding substantially less water than their normal storage levels, according to the Central Water Commission’s weekly reservoir report dated October 22. The report covered eight reservoirs, and all eight were below normal storage.

Among the eight, Lower Manair recorded the highest storage at 70.01 per cent of its live capacity. Nizam Sagar followed at 57.91 per cent, the Musi Project at 57.72 per cent and Kaddam at 54.15 per cent. Jurala stood at 50 per cent, while Sriram Sagar recorded 44.65 per cent.

Nagarjunasagar, one of the key projects in the Krishna basin, was at 29.68 per cent of its live capacity. Singur recorded the lowest storage among the eight reservoirs at 11.06 per cent.

The gap between current and normal storage is particularly stark at Nagarjunasagar. Its storage stood at 29.68 per cent against a normal level of 79.23 per cent. In the corresponding period last year, it was 96.61 per cent.

Sriram Sagar recorded 44.65 per cent compared with a normal storage level of 97.85 per cent. Its storage in the same period last year was 99.11 per cent. Lower Manair, at 70.01 per cent, was in a comparatively better position, though it was at 100 per cent last year.

The CWC’s weekly reservoir report tracks storage in important reservoirs across the country. The figures compare current live storage with normal storage levels and with storage in the corresponding period of the previous year. Live storage refers to the water available for use, as distinct from dead storage that cannot be drawn down under normal operating conditions.

Reservoir storage is measured as a percentage of live capacity. Normal storage is a reference level based on historical data for the period. Last year’s figures show that storage was much higher in the corresponding week at several projects, including Nagarjunasagar and Sriram Sagar.

The report does not, in the details available, explain the reasons for the below-normal storage. It also does not assess the impact on irrigation or drinking water supplies. Such assessments would depend on subsequent rainfall, inflows and decisions on water releases.

In Telangana, these reservoirs support irrigation and drinking water needs and form part of the state’s water management system. The October 22 figures provide a snapshot of storage at this point in the year. Comparisons with normal and previous-year levels help place the current storage in context.

For readers, the key numbers are the percentages of live capacity: Lower Manair 70.01, Nizam Sagar 57.91, Musi Project 57.72, Kaddam 54.15, Jurala 50, Sriram Sagar 44.65, Nagarjunasagar 29.68 and Singur 11.06. All eight are below their normal storage levels, according to the report.

The CWC publishes reservoir storage data for monitoring purposes. The weekly report is used to track water availability in major projects. The data in the October 22 report covers eight reservoirs in Telangana. It lists storage as a percentage of live capacity and compares it with normal storage and with last year’s storage for the same period.

For Nagarjunasagar, the difference between current storage and normal storage is about 49.55 percentage points. For Sriram Sagar, the difference is about 53.20 percentage points. These are arithmetic differences from the reported figures.