New Delhi, Aug. 20 -- India's reservoir storage deficit has narrowed sharply over the past month as a revival in monsoon rainfall replenished water levels, offering some relief for irrigation and drinking-water supplies. But storage remains well below last year's level in most regions, underscoring continued pressure on water resources, according to Central Water Commission (CWC) data reviewed by Mint.

Live storage in 166 monitored reservoirs stood at 109.11 billion cubic metres (BCM), or 59.4% of their combined capacity, as of 13 August. The reservoirs account for 71% of India's total estimated live-storage capacity of 257.812 BCM.

That was 19.6% below the 135.64 BCM recorded a year earlier, although close to the long-term normal of 11...