Lok Sabha Question No. 840 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-04
Subject: Reservoir Storage Monitoring System
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Sanatan Pandey, Shri Rajpalsinh Mahendrasinh Jadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 840

ANSWERED ON 04.12.2025

## RESERVOIR STORAGE MONITORING SYSTEM

## †840.  SHRI SANATAN PANDEY:

## SHRI RAJPALSINH MAHENDRASINH JADAV:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  satellite-based  technology  is  being  used  for  real-time  monitoring  of  reservoirs  and  if  so,  the details of the agencies assisting in the implementation of the said system;

(b)  the  impact  of  the  said  real  time  monitoring  on  water  management  and  early  warning  systems  for disasters;

(c) whether any standardisation policy has been adopted for collecting reservoir data under the Reservoir Storage Monitoring System (RSMS);

(d) if so, the details of the States in which the policy has been implemented effectively and the manner in which the policy has contributed in resolving inter-State water sharing disputes;

(e) whether the RSMS improves transparency and water resource management and if so, the details thereof; and

(f)  the  details  of  the  number  of  currently  functional/active  reservoirs  along  with  their  total  live  storage capacity?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) Central  Water  Commission  (CWC)  monitors  the  live  storage  status  of  166  reservoirs  across  the country.  Of  these,  a  Telemetry-based  Reservoir  Monitoring  System  (TBRMS)  has  been  installed  on  78 major  reservoirs.  However,  owing  to  challenges  associated  with  satellite-based  technology,  instead  of TBRMS, reservoir data is monitored through the Reservoir Storage Monitoring System (RSMS), which was introduced in 2012 to streamline data entry by project authorities and CWC offices. In April 2025, a new web-based RSMS portal was launched, enabling automated data analysis and facilitating the generation of charts, tables, and graphs for inclusion in the reservoir bulletin.

(b) As a non-structural flood management measure, CWC issues short-range forecasts with up to 24-hour lead time to State Governments and provides seven-day advisory forecasts online for preparedness. Inflow forecasts are also given to designated reservoirs for regulation. At present, flood forecasts are being issued by CWC at 350 stations across the country, comprising 150 inflow forecast stations and 200 level forecast

stations, in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure. Daily Flood Situation Reports prepared by the  regional  offices  of  the  CWC  include  reservoir  storage  data,  rainfall  forecasts  issued  by  the  India Meteorological  Department  (IMD),  and  advisories  from  CWC  to  alert  project  authorities  regarding anticipated hydro-meteorological conditions. At the national level, consolidated reports are issued on a daily basis  during  the  monsoon  season  to  State  Chief  Secretaries,  State  Disaster  Management  Authorities (SDMAs), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA). In addition, CWC submits reports to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on the storage status of monitored reservoirs during the monsoon period to facilitate team deployment and positioning.

Flood forecasts are disseminated via the Flood Forecasting website, Flood Watch India 2.0 app, SMS, e-mail,  telephone,  and  social  media.  Additionally,  seven-day  advisory  forecasts  are  available  through  a rainfall-based  portal.  Common  Alert  Protocol  (CAP)  alerts,  generated  in  collaboration  with  C-DOT  and NDMA, are  uploaded  by  CWC  for  level-forecasting  stations  and  transmitted  to  SDMAs  via  the  Sachet platform for dissemination of public warnings.

(c)  &  (d) RSMS  portal  is  currently  being  used  in  21  States  for  monitoring  the  reservoir  live  storage capacity of 166 dams.The concerned project authorities or State Governments directly enter water level and live  storage  data  into  the  RSMS  portal  following  standard  procedures.  As  such,  the  portal  is  not  directly being  used  for  resolving  inter-state  water  sharing  disputes.  However,  during  extreme  weather  events, especially during the monsoon season, dams are to be operated as per the rule curve and the Operation & Maintenance manual. All the dam owners are required to have O&M manual containing standard operating procedures for their dams/reservoirs in place. As per the Dam Safety Act 2021, every owner of the specified dam shall ensure that a well-documented operation and maintenance manual is kept at each of the specified dam and are followed at all times.

(e) Yes,  RSMS  enhances  transparency  and  strengthens  water  resource  management.  Data  analysis  and bulletin  generation  are  carried  out  through  RSMS,  with  soft  copies  of  the  bulletin  disseminated   to  all concerned stakeholders. In addition, the bulletin is uploaded on the RSMS portal for access by the public at large.  The  portal  dashboard  enables  the  general  public  to  view  the  status  of  monitored  reservoirs  either individually, or aggregated state-wise and basin-wise. This system facilitates better planning and preparedness  for  drought  conditions,  as  well  as  improved  disaster  management  during  floods,  by  the concerned Ministries of the Central Government.

(f) As  per  the  National  Register  of  Specified  Dams  2025  compiled  by  the  National  Dam  Safety Authority, the country is currently having 6,545 number of completed and functional specified dams with total live storage capacity of 253.95 Billion Cubic Meters (available at URL: https://dharma.cwc.gov.in/#/national-register-of-specified-dams-(nrsd)-2025).

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