1 week Ago By Sarang Dastane
Pune: The city is set to receive adequate water from the dams of Khadakwasla circle this summer, as officials said close to 1 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of additional water is currently present in storage compared to the same time last year. However, the state irrigation department has still urged the PMC to use water judiciously until the arrival of the monsoon to avoid critical situations. The collective stock of water on Friday in the four dams of the circle — Khadakwasla, Panshet, Varasgaon and Temghar — was recorded at 11.
6 TMC (40% of their existing total capacity of 29.15 TMC). Last year on this date, it was 10.
8 TMC (37%). Officials told TOI that they are keenly monitoring the release of water for the city and rural areas. While water discharge for rural parts is expected to be stopped in the next 15 days, the city will continue to receive supply as per the existing quantum without curtailment.
This ensures that the city will not have to face cuts, at least while getting water from the four circle dams as well as a fifth — Bhama Askhed, which holds 3.7 TMC (48%) of water stock at the moment. Pimpri Chinchwad also gets water supply from the Pavana dam.
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been lifting around 1,500 MLD (million litres per day) of water from Khadakwasla circle. It will require around 5 TMC of water until July 15, which has been set aside by the irrigation department. Civic officials said they are making efforts to ensure that the city does not have to face water cuts during summer or towards the end of the season.
Meanwhile, citizens from many areas are unhappy with the water supply, claiming that it has been erratic. But an official from PMC's water supply department argued, "Most complaints pertain to lapses in the distribution system. Efforts are underway to reduce loopholes, and at the same time, we have urged the irrigation department to maintain adequate stock in dams to meet the city's requirements.
" A senior official from the irrigation department said that since there will not be any curtailment in water supply from dams to the PMC, the latter must play a key role in providing adequate water to residents. He said, "A review of water storage in different dams and water usage by PMC will be held in May. This will help decide how much water is to be released to rural areas until the arrival of the monsoon.
We are also expecting a preliminary report on monsoon arrival by mid-May. As of now, the situation looks to be under control." From the current stock of 11.
6 TMC of water in the Khadakwasla circle's dams, the irrigation department is expecting about 1 TMC of losses due to evaporation in the next three months. Around 5 TMC of water will go to the city, while the remaining water will flow to rural areas and will be kept reserved as per the requirements. Last year, the city did not face any curtailment in water supply from dams.
Irrigation officials claim that proper management of water helped in supplying adequate water to the city and rural areas in 2024..
