Irrigation department releases water for rabi crops

PUNE: The state irrigation department has started releasing water from the Khadakwasla dam into the Mutha canal for rabi crops.
The water release started from Monday would continue for the next 45 days. About 3.6 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) water is expected to be released during the ongoing rotation, which will flow up to Daund and Indapur.
An irrigation department official said the water release was initiated according to the preliminary irrigation programme and it was not affecting the city's water quota.
Initially, the irrigation department had planned to release water after the canal committee meeting slated around November 15, but it was postponed because of the model code of conduct enforced for the legislative council polls. Now, the meeting is expected to take place within a fortnight.
A senior official of the irrigation department said the department could initiate the release of water according to the preliminary irrigation programme and it did not require the nod of the state government, the canal committee or the district collector. The permission from the district collector is sought in scarcity situation, he said.
"The four dams supplying water to the city and rural areas have enough water storage. We are not touching the city's water quota while releasing water for agriculture. This is the first rotation for rabi crops," the official said.
On Wednesday, the water stock in four dams was recorded at 25.76 TMC (88.34%) - about 10.50 TMC more than the last year's stock of 14.12 TMC. The stock in Temghar was at 24.29% and in Panshet it was 94.83%. Varasgaon had 99.71% and Khadakwasla 86.25% stock.