Water storage in city dams crosses 5-TMC mark

PUNE: Water storage in city’s four dams crossed 5-TMC mark on Wednesday which is enough to meet city’s demand for more than three months.
Water storage in Panshet and Khadakwasla dams was at 30% on Wednesday while that in Varasgaon stood at 10% of total capacity. Water level in Temghar dam, which was below zero per cent for the last one month, has registered live stock following 245mm rainfall in its catchments in the last 24 hours.
About three TMC water has been added in the storage in the last four days. Officials in irrigation department said the collective storage, which stood at 2.50 TMC on Saturday, has increased to 5.85 TMC on Wednesday evening. The collective storage in four dams stood at 1.95 TMC during the same period last year.
“There was hardly any rainfall in the catchment areas last year till the first week of July which resulted in the stock dipping below 2 TMC mark in the last week of June. This year, however, the situation is much better with over five TMC water in the dams,” officials said.
As per estimates, water levels in all four dams will reach their maximum capacities (29 TMC) by August-end, if catchment areas receive normal rainfall.
Meanwhile, 10 talukas in Pune district have crossed the June’s average rainfall mark. Three talukas, including Baramati, Indapur and Purandar, are yet to cross the average rainfall, so far. Velha region has registered 400% rainfall of June’s average while Mulshi, Bhor and Maval have registered about 300% each, so far.