Coronavirus Pune: Water level in dams reduces

PUNE: The coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, and Pune remains under threat as one of the hotbeds. One of the best ways to protect ourselves from the COVID-19 is by social distancing and washing our hands. The World Health Organisation (WHO), along with the local administration, have been raising are trying to spread awareness of washing hands.

Due to increased awareness on social media as well, people are washing their hands about 5-7 times a day and disinfecting their houses at daily. Due to this, average water consumption has gradually increased. The total water level of all four dams supplying water to the Pune city dropped by 1.93 TMC in the last two weeks from the day of coronavirus lockdown in the district.

As per information shared by the irrigation department, the water storage level, on Tuesday was 14.35 TMC which is 49.2 per cent of the storage of four dams including Panshet, Temghar, Khadakwasla and Varasgaon.

Last year on the same day, the storage level was 9.29 TMC. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) draws about 1.4 TMC water every month and about 16 TMC in a year. When contacted, one of the PMC officials said that there is no need to worry as due to lockdown, there has been a reduction in the industrial usage of water. The official said that there is no difference in the daily amount of water lifted by PMC.

As per the data furnished by the irrigation department about the storage in four dams stood at Panshet (6.87 TMC), Temghar (0), Khadakwasla (1 TMC) and Varasgaon (6.52 TMC).

While WHO, along with water conservationists, all over the world, has raised a concern around water conservation amid the COVID-19 crisis. The water crisis is one of the biggest challenges in India with Maharashtra at the forefront due to the recent droughts. 

WATER IN DAMS (in TMC)