CENTRAL WATER COMMISSION (Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Env & Eco)

Context: The Central Water Commission (CWC) recently reported that water shortages across the country are set to worsen, with the water level in the 150 main reservoirs having dropped to 23%, which is 77% less than last year's levels.

Key Highlights of CWC

• At least 8 reservoirs across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh (AP), and Uttarakhand reported zero storage.
• 4 additional reservoirs, located in AP, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, had less than 10% storage.
• The southern region, encompassing AP, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, faced severe repercussions.
• Out of 42 reservoirs in this area, only 14% of their total capacity was filled, compared to 25% last year and the normal 20%.
• The northern, eastern, and central regions exhibited storage levels at 30%, 28%, and 29.1% respectively, in comparison to their total reservoir capacities.
• Thirteen east-flowing rivers between the Mahanadi and Pennar remained dry for nine consecutive weeks, including Rushikulya, Bahuda, Vamsadhara, and others.
• 18 out of 19 river basins registered storage levels below 50%, with only the Brahmaputra basin reporting 58.58% capacity.
• Storage in the Ganga river basin stood at 31.99% of its capacity, lower than last year but higher than the 'normal' average over the past ten years.

Central Water Commission (CWC)

• About: It operates as an attached office of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, falling under the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation.
• Headquarters: New Delhi.
• Organizational Structure: Led by a Chairman holding the status of Ex-Officio Secretary to the 
• Divisional Authority: Each wing is overseen by a full-time Member, carrying the status of Ex-Officio Additional Secretary to the Government of India.
• Functions:
• Coordination and Initiation: Responsible for initiating, coordinating, and advancing schemes in consultation with State Governments for water resource control, conservation, and utilization nationwide.
• Scope of Operations: Undertakes investigations, constructions, and execution of schemes related to flood control, irrigation, navigation, drinking water supply, and water power development.