Pune: Relief for flood-prone areas as dams' discharge reduces

PUNE: Water discharge from most dams around Pune, including Khadakwasla, Temghar and Mulshi, was reduced on Saturday amid reduced rainfall activity in the catchments, giving relief to the residents in the low-lying areas on a possible flooding alert.
The state irrigation department, however, said the rainwater inflow continued into the dams even on Saturday. "Therefore, the dicharge, though reduced, also continued," an official said.
PMC officials said the plan for temporary shifting of citizens from low-lying areas has been put on standby. "The water levels in the Mutha, Mula and Pavana rivers started declining late on Friday night. On Saturday, the quantum of water in these rivers depleted further. However, we have kept the machinery ready for the next couple of days as a precautionary measure," a civic official said.
The water release from Khadakwasla has been reduced to the rate of 5,138 cusecs, followed by Mulshi (2,262 cusecs) and Temghar (1,273 cusecs).
An official from the state irrigation department said, "Temghar recorded 10mm rainfall on Saturday, while Khadakwasla, Panshet and Varasgaon received 5mm rain each. There was a considerable drop in rain on Saturday as against Friday's heavy downpour. We are monitoring water levels in the dams and rainfall activity," the official said.
Another official of the irrigation department said 2 TMC water was added in the four dams in the Khadakwasla circle in the 24 hours ending Saturday morning. The water discharge from Ujani continued at rate of 90,000 cusecs on Saturday. Water released from Ujani flows into the Bhima river towards Pandharpur.