Stock in many Maharashtra dams below last year levels; over 2 TMC less storage in Pune

PUNE: Live or usable water stock in some major dams in revenue regions like Nagpur, Pune and Nashik has now dropped below last year's levels amid increased water requirement in view of scant or no pre-monsoon rainfall and summer heat.

State water resources department data showed that water stock in the medium dam projects in regions like Konkan, Amravati and Pune had also dropped below the levels recorded on the same day last year.
With respect to designed live storage (see graphic), the Pune revenue region's medium dam projects had a live storage of over 52% around May 25 last year, which stood at 45% on Wednesday. Live water storage in some medium dams in Konkan was 48% on Wednesday as against 72% on the same day last year. In Amravati, live stock in medium dam projects now has dipped to 46.19% as against 52.88% on the same day last year.
Major dam projects in Nagpur had live water storage of 34.77% on Wednesday as against 46.51% the same day in 2021. In Nashik, live stock in major dams has plunged to 33.77% as against last year's 42.62%.
HV Gunale, chief engineer of the water resources department, Pune division, said, "Drinking water availability in Pune's four dams Khadakwasla, Panshet, Varasgaon and Temghar will be sufficient till July 15, irrespective of when monsoon arrives."
An irrigation department official from Pune told TOI, that the collective stock of water in the four dams in the Khadakwasla circle, which supply water to Pune has dipped to 6.91 TMC, in comparison to last year's 9.15 TMC.
A state water resources department official told TOI, "There's been an increase in drinking water demand in the state because water from several dams is also being released for villages. This has caused an increase in the quantum of water released from not only major and medium projects, but also from minor dams. However, as of now, districts are not experiencing any drinking water shortage because we had sufficient storage after last monsoon."
The official said in revenue regions where live storage has dropped below last year levels, supplies for irrigation will be curtailed to ensure adequate drinking water availability.