Pune: There will be no shortage of water for the next one year in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad as two days of continuous rainfall pushed stocks in the seven dams — Khadakwasla , Panshet, Varasgaon, Temghar, Bhama Askhed, Pavana and Andra — to their full capacities on Sunday. However, on Monday, the storage was brought down marginally to accommodate inflow of rainwater. On Monday, the irrigation department reduced the water discharge from several dams, including Khadakwasla, Mulshi and Pavana, after the intensity of rain came down in catchment areas.
This provided relief to flood-affected citizens in low-lying areas and pockets along the riverbanks of the Mutha, Mula and Pavana. Khadakwasla had discharged water into the Mutha river at the rate of 45,000 cusecs on Sunday, the highest since 2019. This release was brought down in phases to 35,000 cusecs on Monday afternoon, further to 21,500 cusecs by evening, and 9,200 cusecs at night.
Irrigation department officials, however, said the release may further go down or increase depending on rainfall at upstream dams. A report by the irrigation department said rainfall at four dams in the Khadakwasla circle dropped to single digit on Monday. Khadakwasla catchment area recorded 1mm rain between 6am and 5pm, while Panshet and Varasgaon catchments received 5mm and 4mm rain respectively.
Temghar received 9mm rain. The release from Panshet and Varasgaon was brought down to 3,070 cusecs and 600 cusecs, respectively, while Temghar released at the rate of 1,270 cusecs into Khadakwasla dam. In the backdrop of heavy rainfall in catchments and the huge inflow of water into reservoirs, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday told the irrigation department to reduce the water stock in Khadakwasla to accommodate discharge from Temghar, Panshet and Varasgaon.
“Khadakwasla’s live storage of water was reduced to 60% on Monday evening. The stock will be maintained between 50% and 80%. Similarly, water levels in Panshet and Varasgaon will be maintained around 85%.
Some space will be kept aside at all three dams to accommodate a sudden increase in discharge that could lead to flooding,” an official said on condition of anonymity. Four dams in the Khadakwasla circle have collectively released 5 TMC into the Mutha in the last two days and more than 16 TMC this season. 22 dams in Bhima basin release water Twenty-two out of 26 dams in the Bhima basin released water into various rivers on Monday following widespread rainfall.
The release pushed the water stock in Ujani dam near full capacity which in turn discharged water into the Bhima river at the rate of 60,000 cusecs. Ujani's collective storage capacity is over 115 cusecs. Among other major dams that released water included Bhama Askhed, Andra, Bhor Bhatghar, Nira Devghar, Vir, and Dimbhe.
.
