Panshet, Khadakwasla water drop to 5 TMC

PUNE: The scorching summer has left two dams from which the city draws water — Panshet and Khadakwasla — with a collective stock of just 5.2 TMC, which is roughly 18% of their combined storage capacity. Temghar and Varasgaon, the two other dams that supply water to the city, have already gone dry.

Though the monsoon rains are still a few days away, the irrigation department has assured that there is adequate water to meet the city’s requirements until July 15. The supply can be extended for another 15 days if the water is used judiciously over the next one month.

The water stock in Panshet was recorded at 41% of its storage capacity and at Khadakwasla it was 44%. The irrigation department has continued its release of water for summer crops, and this release is expected to stop only in the second week of June.

A senior irrigation official said, “Steps are being taken to maintain adequate stocks in the two dams to ensure uninterrupted water supply to the city until the end of July. Usually, the practice is to keep water stock aside that can last until July 15. The city will comfortably receive water without major cuts if the existing stock is utilized judiciously by the by civic administration. There should not be any additional drawing of water in the next two months. That could put pressure on the existing stock.”

Sources in the irrigation department said the water levels in the dams can go up if there are long spells of rain in the initial phase of monsoon. However, there could be challenges if the catchment areas witness longer dry spells till July 15.

The city, which draws around 1.4 TMC water from the dams every month, will require at least 2 TMC water till mid-July and an additional 0.5 TMC if there are dry spells.

The irrigation department said good management of water stocks in the past eight months has helped store more water by the end of the summer this year. Last year, by the end of May the water stocks stood at 4.3 TMC (15%). This year’s stock is about 1 TMC more than last year, the department said.

About a couple of months ago, the department had pulled up the civic administration for lifting additional water from the canal. The city’s water usage had increased up to 1600 MLD. After guardian minister Girish Bapat’s intervention, it was dropped to 1350 MLD. The civic administration has been asked to continue with 1350 MLD water supply till the arrival of monsoon.