Pune: 35 dams in division hold 7% more stock than last year

PUNE: The 35 major dams in the division, at the end of June, were collectively holding 27% water stock, which was 7% higher than the stock these reservoirs had last year on the same day.
The stock at the end of June this year was the highest in five years. Heavy spells of rain increased the water levels in the dams in the division.

The state irrigation department’s data revealed that in 2019, the dams collectively had 7% water stock, while in 2018 and 2017 the stocks in the major dams in Pune division were around 22% and 16%, respectively.
The state irrigation department’s data revealed that the five dams that supplied water to the city — Khadakwasla, Temghar, Varasgaon, Panshet and Bhama Askhed — now held over 3.5 TMC additional stock, compared to the same time last year.
Officials from the state irrigation department said that according to the data of past years, the catchments of the major dams in Pune division received heavy spells in July and August.
This year, good spells were also recorded in June and it had led to the increase in water stock.
“The Pune division includes Satara, Kolhapur and Sangli districts. The dams located in all these districts have also recorded fairly goods spells of rain and rise in water stock. In the coming months, we are expecting similar spells, which could push the water-levels further”, an official said.
Stock in most dams in Satara and Kolhapur districts were around 30% of their respective live stock capacities, including Koyna with 37% live stock at the end of June and Radhanagari at 25%.
The collective stock in the four dams — Khadakwasla, Temghar, Varasgaon and Panshet — that supply water to the city was at 8.61 TMC (29.5%) on Wednesday while the storage of Bhama Askhed was 3.23 TMC (42%).
VP Patil, the executive engineer of Khadakwasla irrigation circle, said that the inflow of rain water in reservoirs had reduced in the last three days because of subdued rainfall in the catchments.
The existing stock in dams had been kept reserved to meet the drinking water requirements. The water-levels in the reservoirs were being checked on a daily basis, he added.