Iconic Khadakwasla:

Dams fuuuullllll!!!! Relief to Punekars………

The irrigation department staff posted at various dams that supply water to the city are sporting a broad smile despite the fact that they are on toes monitoring the water levels. Due to continuous rainfall, the dams have, for the first time since 1996, filled up in such a short span.

Pune gets water supply from Khadakwasla, Panshet, Varasgaon and Temghar dams, which are all full. The irrigation department even had to discharge water to ensure that the dams are not overloaded by the additional quantity. The irrigation department in the past few years has been concerned about getting the dams to maximum water shortage because the water has to be used for the entire year. If there is any shortage, then they have to work out how to manage the supply for that year.

The rainfall and water collection is being tracked continuously and decisions to release water from dams is taken as per the situation at each dam as the maximum storage capacity should not be crossed at any time.

The water storage capacity of Panshet, Varasgain, KHadakwasla and Temghar dam is 11,13,2 and 4 TM (thousand million cubic feet), respectively. All the four dams have filled to maximum capacity, taking the storage capacity to 30 TMC.

The water from these dams is used to meet the water supply demands of city, which is around 15 TMC. The water is also supplied for agricultural purposes.

In past few years, the irrigation department had directed the PMC to cut down its water supply as the dams did not have water to the maximum capacity. The civic body was forced to introduce water cuts.

So Punekars now you get refief from water cuts… but use is SPARINGLY….