According to data released on Thursday by the Central Water Commission, the average water table in these reservoirs has been less than last year's level as well as the average of last 10 years during this time of the year Deficient rainfall, especially in pockets of southern, western and northern India, has pulled down the overall water levels at the country’s 91 key reservoirs so far. According to data released on Thursday by the Central Water Commission (CWC), the average water table in these reservoirs has been less than last year’s level as well as the average of last 10 years during this time of the year. According to CWC, 31 reservoirs located in southern states, where water table has been reported at 32% of holding capacities against 44 % last year, overall water table in key reservoirs across the country is at 51% of their capacities. A year ago, the average water table was 65 % of their capacities while 10 year average of water table is 63 % of their capacities. Although water level in reservoirs in northern, eastern, central and western India has been more or marginally less than last year’s and average of last 10 year levels, deficient rainfall in parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala have adversely impacted water levels in region’s water reservoirs. Agriculture ministry officials said that the kharif crops sowing has not been impacted so far significantly and the reservoirs in southern India is expected to be replenished during the retreating monsoon (October-November), which brings rains to Tamil Nadu and parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. Meanwhile, stating that southwest monsoon has been vigorous over Rayalaseema Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and South interior Karnataka on Thursday, IMD in a statement has given forecasts for heavy rains across north-eastern states, Uttarakhand, east Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Gujarat region, north madhya Maharashtra, Telangana and coastal Karnataka in the next couple of days. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cumulative rainfall received till Thursday across the country is 94% of the bench mark Long Period Average (LPA), falling just below the ‘normal’ level. Rainfall in a range of 96-104% of LPA is treated as ‘normal’. LPA rainfall is pegged at 89 cm, on the basis of average between 1951-2000. Regionwise, northwest, east and northeast India, have received ‘normal’ rainfall of 97% and 101% of LPA respectively. Central India has received 91% of LPA, which falls in the ‘below normal’ category. In case of southern peninsula, rainfall so far has been 88% of LPA, which is in ‘deficient’ category. Out of the 36 sub-divisions in the country, five have received ‘excess’ rainfall, 22 ‘normal’ while 9 have received ‘deficient’ rains. In terms of area, 18% of the country falls in ‘excess’ rainfall zone, 58% in the ‘normal’ while 24% of areas fall in ‘deficient’ rainfall zones. At present, mainly regions such as Kerala, Karnataka, Vidarbha, western Uttar Pradesh, western and eastern Madhya Pradesh have received ‘deficient’ rainfall. In June, the met department predicted that monsoon season (June-September) rainfall for the country as a whole is likely to be 98% of the (LPA) with a model error of ±4%. The heartening factor is that the showers in July, which has a 33% share in overall monsoon rains, would be at 96% of its LPA but the rainfall during the month was 102% of LPA. The month of August, which has a share of 29% in overall monsoon rains is expected to receive 99% of LPA as per the IMD forecast.