Centre issues drought advisory to 6 states as water level in dams dips

With water stor in dams dropping to a "critical" level, Centre has issued a "drought visory" to Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Presh, Telangana and Tamil Nu, asking m to use water judiciously.

visory was issued to Tamil Nu on Friday and similar cautionary letters were sent to Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nu, Karnataka, Andhra Presh and Telangana late last week, said SK Haldar, a member of Central Water Commission (CWC).

drought visory is issued to states when water level in reservoirs is 20 per cent less than aver of live water stor figures of past 10 years. Waterfalls under state list and visory recommends states to use it for drinking purpose only till dams are replenished.

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CWC monitors water stor available in 91 major reservoirs across country.

According to figures released on Thursday, total water stor available was 35.99 billion cubic metres (BCM), which is 22 per cent of total stor capacity of se reservoirs. total stor capacity of se 91 reservoirs is 161.993 BCM.

figure was at 24 per cent for week ending on May 9. situation seems to be grim in western and sourn parts of country.

western region includes Gujarat and Maharashtra. re are 27 reservoirs -- 10 in Gujarat and 17 in Maharashtra having a total live stor capacity of 31.26 BCM -- under CWC monitoring. total live stor available in se reservoirs is 4.10 BCM until May 16, which is 13 per cent of total live stor capacity.

stor in 27 reservoirs of se two states during corresponding period of last year was 18 per cent and aver stor of last 10 years was 22 per cent. situation in Marathwa is particularly critical where water level in 45 major dams has hit an alarmingly low level.

On Tuesday, Skymet, a private wear forecasting ncy, said rainfall in Vidarbha, Marathwa, west Mhya Presh and Gujarat will be "poorer than rmal". sourn region includes states of Andhra Presh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nu.

re are 31 reservoirs -- two of Andhra Presh and Telangana toger, Andhra Presh (1), Telangana (2), Karnataka (14), Kerala (6) and Tamil Nu (6) -- under CWC monitoring having total live stor capacity of 51.59 BCM.

" total live stor available in se reservoirs is 6.86 BCM, which is 13 per cent of total live stor capacity of se reservoirs. stor during corresponding period of last year was 13 per cent and aver stor of last ten years during corresponding period was 16 per cent," CWC said.

Situation seems to be better in rrn region which includes states of Himachal Presh, Punjab and Rajasthan.

re are six reservoirs under CWC monitoring having a total live stor capacity of 18.01 BCM. total live stor available in se reservoirs is 8.54 BCM which is 47 per cent of total live stor capacity of se reservoirs.

eastern region includes states of Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Tripura. re are 15 reservoirs under CWC monitoring having total live stor capacity of 18.83 BCM. total live stor available in se reservoirs is 5.04 BCM which is 27 per cent of total live stor capacity of se reservoirs.