Reservoirs hold 43 per cent more water than last 10 years' average

New Delhi, Apr 16 (UNI) The total live storage of 76 important reservoirs in different parts of the country is 46.354 billion cubic metre (BCM), which is 13.9 BCM or 43 per cent more than the average of last ten years.

It is 3.381 BCM more than the last year's storage too. Of the 76 reservoirs monitored by the Central Water Commission, 61 are having more than 80 per cent of normal storage as on April 12, 2007.

As per Weekly Weather Watch Group Report, the total area coverage of wheat has been significantly higher. The area this year is 284.969 lakh hectare as against 266.970 lakh hectare in the corresponding period of 2005-06. Higher coverage has been reported from Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The crop condition is normal.

Sowing of rabi rice is in progress in many states. The total coverage so far is 41.010 lakh hectare.

The area coverage of coarse cereals has been higher at 67.193 lakh hectare against last year's 63.091 lakh hectare. Pulses cover 142.246 lakh hectare which is 4.594 lakh hectare more than that of last year, said an official release issued here today.

UNI