India's water reservoirs at 34% capacity in week to June 2

Water levels in India’s main reservoirs were at 34 percent of their storage capacity in the week to 21 July, down 3 percentage points from a year earlier, government data showed.

The latest levels were higher than the last 10 years’ average of 33 percent, and were 5 percentage points more compared with the previous week.

Monsoon rains, crucial for India’s farm sector, were 7 percent below average in the week to 20 July, but have been 1 percent above average since 1 June, the typical onset time of the four-month long season.

The monsoon arrived in India on 8 June this year, a week later than usual.

Water levels in reservoirs are important primarily for irrigation during the summer and winter months, and for hydropower generation.