Pune: Due to overfill of the four dams, from which Pune city gets drinking water, Irrigation Department has released 18,491 cusecs water from reservoirs in Mula-Mutha rivers on Friday evening. Due to precautionary measures, the traffic police department closed down riverside roads.
The following amounts of rainfall was recorded in the catchment areas of the four dams: Khadakwasla (11 mm), Panshet (24 mm), Varasgaon (20 mm) and Temghar (62 mm) on Friday. The four dams have total capacity of 29.05 Thousand Million Cubic feet (TMC). Till Friday evening, it had reached 27.62 TMC (94 per cent). Out of the four dams, Varasgaon, Panshet and Khadakwasla have been filled completely.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Disaster Management Cell issued necessary instructions to all ward offices at low-lying areas along Mula-Mutha rivers. PMC has also closed down some roads as a precautionary measure and has appealed the people not to panic, as they have taken all precautions to tackle a flood-like situation.
All four dams are completely full. Hence, the Irrigation Department took the decision to release water from the dams. They released 8,535 cusecs and 3,908 cusecs water from Varasgaon and Panshet respectively.
Speaking to Sakal Times, Ganesh Sonune, Head of Disaster Management Department of the PMC, said, “There is nothing to worry about the water released. We can start alerting riverside residents after water release crosses 20,000 cusecs mark. However, the department has set up a 24x7 helpline. The situation is under control and we have all plans to tackle a flood-like situation.”
Tejaswini Satpute, Deputy Police Commissioner of Traffic Department, said, “We have closed down riverbed roads due to water released in Mutha river.”
Last month on July 16, the Irrigation Department started releasing water starting with 1,700 cusecs from Khadakwasla dam, as it crossed its capacity of 1.97 Thousand Million Cubic feet (TMC) ft. The water released was increased gradually, until it reached 18,491 cusecs at 6 pm.
“According to our disaster plan, a major alert is issued after 25,000 cusecs water is released. At that time, 100 families will be displaced along the riverside. We are continuously communicating with the Irrigation Department. After releasing water from the dam, it takes three hours for it to reach the city area.
