'C'garh among 9 States with less water in reservoirs'

Chhattisgarh is among nine other States having lesser water storage in its key reservoirs compared to last year as on August 27, 2015, according to the latest data released by the Union Ministry of Water Resources.The states of Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana (Two combined projects in both states) Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are the other states which are having lesser storage than last year as on August 27, 2015.

States having better storage than last year for corresponding period are Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tripura, Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh while Andhra Pradesh has an equal storage than last year for corresponding period.The Central region includes Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. There are 12 reservoirs under CWC monitoring having a total storage capacity of 42.30 BCM. The total storage available in these reservoirs is 31.46 BCM which is 74% of total storage capacity of these reservoirs.

The storage during corresponding period of last year was 73% and average storage of last ten years during corresponding period was 58% of live storage capacity of these reservoirs.The Water storage available in 91 important reservoirs of the country as on August 27, 2015 was 91.84 BCM which is 58% of total storage capacity of these reservoirs. This storage is 87% of the storage of corresponding period of last year and 88% of storage of average of last ten years.

The present storage position during current year is less than the storage position of last year and is also less than the storage of average of last ten years. 

The total storage capacity of these 91 reservoirs is 157.799 BCM which is about 62% of the total storage capacity of 253.388 BCM which is estimated to have been created in the country.

On July 6 this year, the Chhattisgarh Government in an official press release had informed that the State’s reservoirs have filled up to an average level of 50%.According to the data received from Chhattisgarh State Data Centre of Water Resource Department, the status of water collection in these water reservoirs, as on July 6, 2015 morning as per the press release was as follows:- Minimata Bango Water Reservoir 73.76%, Gangrel dam 20.69%, Tandula Water Reservoir 26.06%, Doodhawa Water Reservoir 9.61%, Sikaser Water Reservoir 32.82%, Kharang Water Reservoir 25.07%, Sondhur Water Reservoir 41.24%, Murum Silli Water Reservoir 3.41%, Kodar Water Reservoir 31.99%, Maniyari Water Reservoir 76.30%, Kharkhara Water Reservoir 29.50%, Bodli Water Reservoir 24.11%, Kosarteda 79.37%, Paralkot Water Reservoir 26.12%, Shyam Water Reservoir 36.11%, Chheerpani Water Reservoir 85.79%, Pipiriya Water Reservoir 45.86%, Ballar Water Reservoir 29.62%, Sutiyapat Water Reservoir 79.96%, Mogra Water Reservoir 42.90%, Maroda Water Reservoir 46.21%, Saroda Water Reservoir 78.24%, Ghongha Water Reservoir 17.28%, Matiya Moti Water Reservoir 17.98%, Jhumka Water Reservoir 56.57%, Gangetank Water Reservoir 45.52%, Khamharpakut Water Reservoir 17.96%, Keshwa Water Reservoir 24.49%, Karra Nala Water Reservoir 59.37%, Banki Water Reservoir 20.80%, Kedarnala Water Reservoir 40.06%, Kinkari Nala Water Reservoir 7.39%, Kanwarpur Water Reservoir 1.45%, Beharkhar Water Reservoir 69.66%, Khapri Water Reservoir 53.60%, Kumhari Water Reservoir 13.40%, Barnal Water Reservoir 42.96%, Pendravan Water Reservoir 22.52 %, Ruse Water Reservoir 41.18%, Putka Nala Water Reservoir 27.64%, Mayana Water Reservoir 23.66% and Dharam Water Reservoir 12.40%.

Notably, Chhattisgarh’s Energy Department has geared up for ensuring uninterrupted power supply to irrigation pumps of farmers in the rainfall deficient districts of the State.  This was following special directives issued by Chief Minister Raman Singh to officials to ensure farmers face no problems in the rainfall deficient districts.

A high-level meeting was chaired by Principal Secretary, Energy Department Aman Kumar Singh with managing directors of all the state-owned power companies on August 12 to ensure that the pending cases on electrification of irrigation pumps are addressed immediately and connections be provided at the earliest.

He also directed to change all failed transformers in rural areas.Chief Minister Raman Singh had  also directed the officials to allow farmers to extract water from rivers and rivulets for the Kharif season crops through irrigation pumps in the districts where ever the rainfall is found deficient.

The districts of Rajnandgaon, Koriya, Kanker, Balod and Gariaband have received less than average rain this season.

In the five districts with scanty rainfall, power supply to irrigation pumps should be ensured, the Chief Minister said.