The India Climate Observatory

Commentary, action and research on climate and development in India

Big water storage wheel

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The Central Water Commission, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India, monitors every day the quantity of water stored (and used from) each of the 91 major reservoirs of the country. It issues a bulletin every week that gives the weekly storage position of these reservoirs – the volume of water, the level of water in the reservoir and the change from the last week, the change from the same date last year and from the average on this date of the last ten years.

The water storage capacity of these 91 reservoirs taken together is 157.799 billion cubic metres (bcm) which is estimated to be about 62% of the total water storage capacity (in other smaller dams and storage structures all over the country) that has been built and is being used, and which is approximately 253.38 bcm. Out of these 91 reservoirs, hydro-electric power stations (with a capacity of 60 megawatts and more) are attached to 37 reservoirs.

In this illustration by Indiaclimate, for the first time the total storage capacity of the 91 major reservoirs has been visually mapped to show reservoir, state and zone capacities relative to each other and the total.

These are the reservoirs with state, reservoir name and full reservoir level in billion cubic metres (bcm). For a good quality file that you can print, write to us.

South zone reservoirs (AP for Andhra Pradesh, TG for Telengana, APTG for Andhra Pradesh and Telegana together, KAR for Karnataka, TN for Tamil Nadu, KER for Kerala): AP, Somasila (1.994); TG, Sriramsagar (2.3); TG, Lower Manair (0.621); APTG, Srisailam (8.288); APTG, Nagarjuna Sagar (6.841); KAR, Krishnaraja Sagra  (1.163); KAR, Tungabhadra (3.276); KAR, Ghataprabha (1.391); KAR, Bhadra (1.785); KAR, Linganamakki (4.294); KAR, Narayanpur (0.863); KAR, Malaprabha (Renuka) (0.972); KAR, Kabini (0.444); KAR, Hemavathy (0.927); KAR, Harangi (0.22); KAR, Supa (4.12); KAR, Vanivilas Sagar (0.802); KAR, Almatti (3.105); KAR, Gerusoppa (0.13); KER, Kallada (Parappar) (0.507); KER, Idamalayar (1.018); KER, Idukki (1.46); KER, Kakki (0.447); KER, Periyar (0.173); KER, Malapmuzha (0.224); TN, Lower Bhawani (0.792); TN, Mettur (Stanley) (2.647); TN, Vaigai (0.172); TN, Parambikulam (0.38); TN, Aliyar (0.095); TN, Sholayar (0.143). Total for 31 reservoirs 51.59 bcm

West zone reservoirs (GUJ for Gujarat, MAH for Maharashtra): GUJ, Ukai (6.615); GUJ, Sabarmati (Dharoi) (0.735); GUJ, Kadana (1.472); GUJ, Shetrunji (0.3); GUJ, Bhadar (0.188); GUJ, Damanaganga (0.502); GUJ, Dantiwada (0.399); GUJ, Panam (0.697); GUJ, Sardar Sarovar (1.566); GUJ, Karjan (0.523); MAH, Jayakwadi (Paithon) (2.171); MAH, Koyana (2.652); MAH, Bhima (Ujjani) (1.517); MAH, Isapur (0.965); MAH, Mula (0.609); MAH, Yeldari (0.809); MAH, Girna (0.524); MAH, Khadakvasla (0.056); MAH, Upper Vaitarna (0.331); MAH, Upper Tapi (0.255); MAH, Pench (Totaladoh) (1.091); MAH, Upper Wardha (0.564); MAH, Bhatsa (0.942); MAH, Dhom (0.331); MAH, Dudhganga (0.664); MAH, Manikdoh (Kukadi) (0.288); MAH, Bhandardara (0.304). Total for 27 reservoirs 27.07 bcm

East zone reservoirs (JHR for Jharkhand, ODI for Odisha, WB for West Bengal, TRI for Tripura): JHR, Tenughat (0.821); JHR, Maithon (0.471); JHR, Panchet Hill (0.184); JHR, Konar (0.176); JHR, Tilaiya (0.142); ODI, Hirakud (5.378); ODI, Balimela (2.676); ODI, Salanadi (0.558); ODI, Rengali (3.432); ODI, Machkund (Jalput) (0.893); ODI, Upper Kolab (0.935); ODI, Upper Indravati (1.456); WB, Mayurakshi (0.48); WB, Kangsabati (0.914); TRI, Gumti (0.312). Total for 15 reservoirs 18.83 bcm

Central zone reservoirs (UP for Uttar Pradesh, UTT for Uttarakhand, MP for Madhya Pradesh, CHT for Chhattisgarh): UP, Matatila (0.707); UP, Rihand (5.649); UTT, Ramganga (2.196); UTT, Tehri (2.615); MP, Gandhi Sagar (6.827); MP, Tawa (1.944); MP, Bargi (3.18); MP, Bansagar (5.166); MP, Indira Sagar (9.745); MP, Barna (0.456); CHT, Minimata Bangoi (3.046); CHT, Mahanadi (0.767). Total for 12 reservoirs 42.30 bcm

North zone reservoirs (HP for Himachal Pradesh, PUN for Punjab, RAJ for Rajasthan): HP, Gobind Sagar (Bhakra) (6.229); HP, Pong Dam (6.157); PUN, Thein  (2.344); RAJ, Mahi Bajaj Sagar (1.711); RAJ, Jhakam (0.132); RAJ, Rana Pratap Sagar (1.436). Total for 6 reservoirs 18.01 bcm

In 2016, record new renewable energy added, and cheaply

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Recent reports bring positive news related to renewable energy investment and the feasibility of a 100% renewable energy future. The UN Environment Programme (UN Environment, or UNEP), the Frankfurt School-UNEP Collaborating Centre, and Bloomberg New Energy Finance released a report titled ‘Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2017,’ which finds that wind, solar, biomass and waste-to-energy, geothermal, small hydro and marine sources added 138.5 gigawatts to global power capacity in 2016, up 8% from the 127.5 gigawatts added in 2015.

The report indicates that as the cost of clean technology continues to fall, the world added record levels of renewable energy capacity in 2016, at an investment level 23% lower than the previous year. According to UN Environment, the added generating capacity roughly equals that of the world’s 16 largest existing power producing facilities combined.

Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2017, published on April 6th by UN Environment, the Frankfurt School-UNEP Collaborating Centre, and Bloomberg New Energy Finance, finds that all investments in renewables totaled $241.6 billion (excluding large hydro). These investments added 138.5 gigawatts to global power capacity in 2016, up 9 per cent from the 127.5 gigawatts added the year before.

Investment in renewables capacity was roughly double that in fossil fuel generation; the corresponding new capacity from renewables was equivalent to 55 per cent of all new power, the highest to date. The proportion of electricity coming from renewables excluding large hydro rose from 10.3 per cent to 11.3 per cent. This prevented the emission of an estimated 1.7 gigatons of carbon dioxide.

The total investment was $241.6 billion (excluding large hydro), the lowest since 2013. This was in large part a result of falling costs: the average dollar capital expenditure per megawatt for solar photovoltaics and wind dropped by over 10 per cent.