PUNE: Water storage in the reservoirs of the four dams in Khadakwasla irrigation circle - Temghar, Panshet, Varasgaon and Khadakwasla, that supplies water to the city, increased to 18.83 TMC (64.5% of total capacity) on Saturday evening due to the continuous rainfall registered in catchment areas in the last one week. The water level in each reservoir has now crossed the half-way mark.

The current collective storage of 18.83 TMC is not only higher than last season's collective storage, it can also fulfill the city's water demand for the next one year. The city's annual water demand is pegged at 14 TMC. Last year, the collective storage in four reservoirs was 3.74 TMC (12.84% of total capacity) which means reservoirs have about 15 TMC more water this year.

On Saturday evening, water storage in Panshet was 8.10 TMC (76% of total capacity) followed by Khadakwasla (68.77%), Varasgaon 7.46 TMC (58%) and Temghar 1.91 TMC (51.5%). Among the four, Temghar registered the highest rainfall on Saturday at 32mm. Panshet and Varasgaon each registered 19mm rainfall while Khadakwasla registered 10mm rainfall.

Officials of the irrigation department said continuous rainfall has increased water storage in all four reservoirs. The catchment areas have received fairly good rainfall when compared to last year. Since June 1, Temghar has registered 1,562mm rainfall followed by Varasgaon 1,311mm, Panshet 1,305mm and Khadakwasla 374mm. Last year, none of the dams had touched 500mm mark during the same period.

The officials further stated that water storage in Panshet and Varasgaon need to reach their maximum capacity as both the reservoirs have more storage capacity compared to Temghar and Khadakwasla. Besides releasing water for the city, the water from these reservoirs is released for agriculture in Pune and Solapur districts, officials said.

Meanwhile, the water storage in the reservoir of Pavana dam that supplies water to Pimpri Chinchwad reached 6.69 TMC (78.6% of the total capacity). Pavana dam so far has registered 2279mm rainfall, which is highest among all dams located in the Mula Mutha sub-basin.

Dams Storage Rainfall since June 1

Khadakwasla 1.36 TMC (68.7%)374 mm

Varasgaon7.46TMC (58.18%)1311 mm

Panshet8.10 TMC (76.04%)1305 mm

Temghar1.91TMC (51.5%)1562 mm

Total 18.83 TMC (64.58% of total capacity)

