The report stated that the stock was almost 12% more than last year’s 83% during the corresponding period.
Water discharge from the Panshet dam was resumed on Wednesday after a gap of one week following heavy spells of rainfall. The irrigation department was likely to begin water discharge from the Varasgaon dam in the next couple of days.
The live storages in both the dams are at their full capacities. The discharge was initiated. as there was no space to accommodate the inflowing rainwater, an official said.
The collective storage in the dams of Khadakwasla circle was recorded at 99.83% (29.10 TMC) on Wednesday. Water released from Panshet and Varasgaon flows into Khadakwasla. The storage of Khadakwasla was brought down to 96%. But with the flow of water from Panshet and Temghar, Khadakwasla’s stock reached 100% on Wednesday evening.
An irrigation department official said water release from Khadakwasla would begin if the inflow of water from the upstream increased.
The official said, “Water stock in most dams was at a fairly good position at the end of August. The water levels of the dams are at their full capacities. We have stopped releasing water from most dams because of the drop in rainfall. But amid forecasts of heavy spells, water release may have to be restarted as per requirements.”
Last year, the dams had received good spells in September and the water levels were up to the brims. “We are expecting similar rain in September this year as well. This will help maintain the water stock at the full capacities of the dams for a longer period,” the official said.
The state irrigation department has so far released over 13 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) water from Khadakwasla in Mutha river after dams overflowed. Of the 29.15 TMC water stock in four dams, about 16-18 TMC is utilized by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).
Apart from Pune, the collective stocks in dams in other five regions were more than last year’s storages. Earlier this week, the water level of the Koyna dam in Satara district crossed the 100 TMC-mark and it was further marching to attain the 100% capacity of 105.24 TMC. The dam gets filled to its full capacity once a year during the peak monsoon period.