Storage in big dams slightly less than last year

Nagpur: In spite of near normal rainfall this year, storage in major dams of Nagpur division is slightly less than last year when there was very little rainfall in June and July.
Even though there were floods due to overflowing of Totladoh and Kamptee Khairi dams this year, the storage in the two major dams is a little less than last year. However, rains are predicted in the coming days and this year may create a record of sorts as far as storage is concerned.
The storage in 18 major dams of the division was 3,082 million cubic metre (mm3) against total capacity of 3,553 mm3, as on Thursday morning. On October 8, 2019, the storage in these dams was 3,104 mm3. In percentage terms, the storage is 86.74% this year against 87.36% last year.
When it comes to the 40 medium-sized reservoirs in the division, the storage as compared to last year is far less. These dams have a total capacity of 536 mm3. The storage this year is 421 mm3 (78%) against 511 mm3 last year (95%). It is unlikely that more rains will make up this difference.
If the storage is compared with last six years, then major dams have far more water this year, except last year. The five-year average storage in major dams of the division (between 2015 and 2019) is 2,018 mm3 while this year’s figure is 3,104 mm3.
However, when it comes to medium dams, the storage this year is only slightly above the average figure between 2015 and 2019.
Data provided by Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) shows that water was released from six major dams — Wadgaon, Sirpur, Dham, Lower Wardha, Gosikhurd and Dhapewada II — on October 8. VIDC is unable to store 100% water in Gosikhurd because some project affected persons (PAPs) still remain to be relocated.