Thirsty farms, slowing turbines: how depleting dams threaten power, harvest
Executive Brief • Key Highlights
Fast factual intelligence distilled for busy investors, executives, and answer bots:
- ✓India’s depleted reservoirs are threatening agriculture and hydropower after one of the driest monsoon seasons in decades.
- ✓Water levels at 178 reservoirs fell 27% from a year ago.
- ✓Farm expert Sudhir Panwar said, "Low reservoir levels could affect rabi crop cultivation." Consequently, wheat, rice and pulses acreage has dropped.
Story at a Glance
- Category
- Indian Markets
- Reported By
- mint
- Reading Speed
- 5 Minute(s)
- Market Focus
- India Economy
Summary
India's depleted reservoirs are threatening agriculture and hydropower after one of the driest monsoon seasons in decades. Rabi planting has fallen behind last year, with wheat, rice and pulses acreage down.
Scanty rains of the southwest monsoon have left India's key reservoirs severely depleted, threatening irrigation, agricultural output and hydropower generation. Reservoirs that were over 90% full last year are now not even two-thirds full, official data showed, following one of the driest monsoon seasons in decades.
Water levels at India's 178 reservoirs supplying irrigation canals, hydropower units and municipal drinking water are down 27% from a year ago to 121.9 billion cubic metres (bcm), official data showed. The dry spell is already rippling through the rural economy, where six states have declared drought, rabi crop sowing has dropped, and the Reserve Bank of India has warned of mounting risks to food inflation.
Unlock the Full Story with ArthNow Premium
To continue reading this complete financial story and in-depth market context, upgrade to ArthNow Premium. Enjoy unlimited access across Web and Mobile.
mint
Read the full, original unfiltered story directly on the publisher's portal.
This brief is for information only and is not investment advice. ArthNow is not a SEBI-registered investment adviser and does not publish buy or sell recommendations. Original reporting is credited to the publisher named above. Read our editorial policy or report an error.