PUNE: Following the four dams getting filled to capacity (90.33 %), the Irrigation Division released 20,000 cusecs water from Khadakwasla dam on Friday evening. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Water Supply Department finally gave a positive response to the demand for regular water supply from next week. Earlier, despite Mayor Mukta Tilak issuing directives over this, the administration did not withdraw the water cut citing lack of water in the dams.
As on Friday, the four dams have 26.33 thousand million cubic ft (TMC) water (90.33% water storage), which is more than the storage on the same day last year. Last year on the same day, the four dams had 85.19 per cent i. e. 25.26 TMC water. Khadakwasla Irrigation Division Executive Engineer PB Shelar said, “Panshet dam is completely full, so we are releasing 20,000 cusecs water from the dam.”
“Rainfall is continuing in catchment areas, so we will have to increase water release to 23,000 cusces,” PB Shelar said.
Due to water shortage, the PMC implemented water cut since September last year. Puneites are receiving maximum water for five hours once a day.
Speaking to Sakal Times, a senior official of Water Supply Department said, “Mayor Mukta Tilak has called a meeting on Saturday to regularise water supply in the city. Now, we can withdraw the water cut. In last one week, water levels in the four dams have gone up and Khadakwasla Water Irrigation Division will be releasing water from the dams. All four dams are almost full. So we can withdraw the water cut from next week. We will need two days to reschedule the water timetable.”
Tilak said, “We have called a meeting of all department heads to discuss development issues. We will take the decision to regularise water supply after a discussion with Water Supply Department officials.”
In mid-July, corporators demanded regular water supply citing enough water storage in the dams. However, the PMC refused as there was only 13.67 TMC water in the four dams.
PLAN OF ACTION READY
Water released from Khadakwasla and Panshet
Khadakwasla Irrigation Division released 20,000 cusecs water from Khadakwasla on Friday evening at 8 pm. PMC Disaster Management Department Head Ganesh Sonune said, “We have sent our teams to riverside areas to alert residents in Shivane, Sinhagad Road area, Tadiwala Road, Yerawada and Mundhwa area. We have prepared a team of junior engineers and employees of concerned ward to tackle any situation. We have detailed plan on how to tackle the situation.”
WATER RELEASED
As on Friday at 5.30 pm, water storage in Khadakwasla is 1.97 TMC (100%), Panshet dam is 10.65 TMC (100%), Varasgaon 10.92 TMC (85.19%) and Temghar 2.79 TMC (75.17%). Right now, Khadakwasla Irrigation Division is releasing water of 16,247 cusecs from Khadakwasla dam and 4,551 cusecs water from Panshet dam respectively.
