Passage Exercise (PASSEX) in Eastern Indian Ocean Region between Russian Federation Navy and Indian Navy, Live Storage Status of 128 Reservoirs in The Country

December 5, 2020 ยท Param IAS Team

Daily News

Passage Exercise (PASSEX) in Eastern Indian Ocean Region between Russian Federation Navy and Indian Navy

  • The Indian Navy (IN) is undertaking a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with Russian Federation Navy (RuFN) in the Eastern Indian Ocean Region (IOR) from 4 to 5 December 2020. 
  • The exercise involves participation of RuFN guided missile cruiser Varyag, large anti-submarine ship AdmiralPanteleyev and medium ocean tanker Pechenga.
  • IN is being represented by indigenously constructed guided missile frigate Shivalik and anti-submarine corvette Kadmattalongwith integral helicopters.
  • The exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability, improving understanding and imbibing best practices between both the friendly navies, and would involve advanced surface and anti-submarine warfare exercises, weapon firings, seamanship exercises and helicopter operations.
  • PASSEXs are conducted regularly by IN with units of friendly foreign navies, whilst visiting each other's ports or during a rendezvous at sea.
  • This exercise, being conducted in the Eastern Indian Ocean Region, reflects the strong long-term strategic relationship between the two countries and particularly, defence cooperation in the maritime domain.
  • This exercise is being conducted on the occasion of 'Navy Day' of the IN on 4th December, which emphasizes the strong bonds of friendship shared between the two friendly militaries.
  • This PASSEX would be another step towards strengthening Indo-Russian defence relations.
  • The two navies have built a robust relationship through regular exercises such as INDRA Navy conducted biennially, with the last edition held in the Northern Indian Ocean Region from 4 to 5 September 2020. 

Live Storage Status of 128 Reservoirs in The Country

  • Central Water Commission is monitoring live storage status of 128 reservoirs of the country on weekly basis.
  • Out of these reservoirs, 44 reservoirs have hydropower benefit with installed capacity of more than 60 MW.
  • The total live storage capacity of these 128 reservoirs is 172.132 BCM which is about 66.77% of the live storage capacity of 257.812 BCM which is estimated to have been created in the country.
  • As per Reservoir Storage report dated 3rd December, 2020, live storage available in these reservoirs is 136.866 BCM, which is 80% of total live storage capacity of these reservoirs.
  • However, last year the live storage available in these reservoirs for the corresponding period was 146.024 BCM and the average of last 10 years live storage was 114.439 BCM.
  • Thus, the live storage available in 128 reservoirs as per 03.12.2020 reportis 94% of the live storage of corresponding period of last year and 120% of storage of average of last ten years.

Details of region wise storage status are as under:

Northern Region includes States of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan. There are 8 reservoirs under CWC monitoring having total live storage capacity of 19.17 BCM. As per Reservoir Storage report dated 3rd December, 2020, the total live storage available in these reservoirs is 10.66 BCM which is 56% of total live storage capacity of these reservoirs. The storage during corresponding period of last year was 78% and average storage of last ten years during corresponding period was 69% of live storage capacity of these reservoirs.

Eastern Region includes States of Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Tripura and Nagaland. There are 19 reservoirs under CWC monitoring having total live storage capacity of 19.65 BCM. As per Reservoir Storage report dated 3rd December, 2020, the total live storage available in these reservoirs is 13.90 BCM which is 71% of total live storage capacity of these reservoirs. The storage during corresponding period of last year was 78% and average storage of last ten years during corresponding period was 72% of live storage capacity of these reservoirs.

Western Region includes States of Gujarat and Maharashtra. There are 42 reservoirs under CWC monitoring having total live storage capacity of 35.24 BCM. As per Reservoir Storage report dated 3rd December, 2020, the total live storage available in these reservoirs is 31.39 BCM which is 89% of total live storage capacity of these reservoirs. The storage during corresponding period of last year was 94% and average storage of last ten years during corresponding period was 66% of live storage capacity of these reservoirs.

Central Region includes States of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. There are 23 reservoirs under CWC monitoring having total live storage capacity of 45.27 BCM. As per Reservoir Storage report dated 3rd December, 2020, the total live storage available in these reservoirs is 37.64 BCM which is 83% of total live storage capacity of these reservoirs. The storage during corresponding period of last year was 86% and average storage of last ten years during corresponding period was 70% of live storage capacity of these reservoirs

Southern Region includes States of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, AP&TG (2combined projects in both states), Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. There are 36reservoirs under CWC monitoring having total live storage capacity of 52.81 BCM. As per Reservoir Storage report dated 3rd December, 2020, the total live storage available in these reservoirs is 43.28 BCM which is 82% of total live storage capacity of these reservoirs. The storage during corresponding period of last year was 83% and average storage of last ten years during corresponding period was 61% of live storage capacity of these reservoirs.