With polls on, MP ignores demand for water from Chaurai

Nagpur: Elections in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh (MP) have increased the worries of Nagpur district about water from Pench river. MP government has not responded to state’s request for releasing 150 million metre cube (MMC) water from MP’s Chaurai dam even though it is full.
MP will go to polls on November 28 and results will be declared on December 11. It is likely no decision will be taken by MP until formation of new government. It means no chance of water for irrigation for ongoing kharif and upcoming rabi season.

At present, there is no water in Pench reservoirs— Totladoh and Kamptee Khairi— for irrigation. After releasing around 200 MMC water, the water resources department has stopped supply. Water is very necessary for rabi season beginning from mid November.

As of Tuesday, Totladoh was having 153 MMC (15.05%) storage against 1,017 MMC capacity. Kamptee Khairi’s was 58 MMC (41.04%) against capacity of 140 MMC. Together, the two reservoirs have 211 MMC.

For city’s drinking water needs, 136 MMC is needed upto June end. Kalmeshwar, Parsheoni and Mahagenco’s Koradi and Khaparkheda thermal power stations require over 22 MMC. Around 70 MMC water is likely to be lost in evaporation in these eight months including summer. All these demands total 228MMC which means more than storage in the two reservoirs.

NMC and WRD officials told TOI only option left is release of water from Chaurai dam that was constructed a year ago upstream of Pench river. “Chaurai dam is having 399.86 MMC (94.93%) against capacity of 420 MMC. Last year, the dam had 47% storage by end of summer. It means MP does not utilize all the stored water of the dam. Therefore, MP should release water so we can give some for irrigation and keep remaining for drinking purposes,” they said.

Apart from WRD, CM Devendra Fadnavis also wrote to MP government requesting release of 150 MMC water from Chaurai dam a month ago.

Agitations by farmers and political parties for water for irrigation have started to increase. On Tuesday, Congress leaders led by district (rural) president Rajendra Mulak and former ZP president Suresh Bhoyar met sub divisional officer of Mauda demanding water for paddy crop till October 31. Former Shiv Sena MLA Ashish Jaiswal has also launched a series of agitation against WRD demanding more water for irrigation.