Total water storage in the country's 76 major reservoirs is 50 per cent higher than last year's corresponding level despite poor post-monsoon and winter rains.
This is viewed as a favourable indication for hydel power production in the ensuing summer as also for availability of water for crop irrigation.
According to the water management directorate of the Central Water Commission, which monitors water levels in the major reservoirs, the total volume of water on March 24 was 51.53 billion cubic metres. This represents 39 per cent of the total live storage capacity.
Last year, on this date, these reservoirs held 34.25 BCM water, representing 26 per cent of the total storage capacity. Last 10 years' average water storage for this period works out at 38.81 BCM or 29 per cent of the full reservoirs level.
The present storage position is 17.28 BCM, or 50 per cent, above last year's storage and about 12.72 BCM, or 33 per cent, higher than last 10 years' average storage.
The bulk of the replenishment of the reservoirs had occurred during the monsoon season. The rainfall in most part of the country in the post-monsoon, winter and post-winter seasons have generally been far below normal.
According to the weather office, the total rainfall in January and most part of February (winter season) was over 30 per cent below normal this year. About 15 of the total 36 meteorological sub-divisions had no rainfall at all during this period.
Though north-west and central India experienced some good showers, including thunder and hail storms, in early March, the country-wide cumulative rainfall between March 1 and March 22 was deficient by 42 per cent.
The total rainfall during this period had been only 4.9 mm, against the normal of 8.4 mm. But, despite the low rainfall, as many as 22 reservoirs are more than half full.
Three of them (Lower Bhawani and Mettur in Tamil Nadu and Narayanpur in Karnataka) have water levels exceeding 80 per cent of their live storage capacity.
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