Pune: The four dams in the Khadakwasla circle added nearly 4 TMC of water in the 24-hour period ending Tuesday evening — enough to meet Pune city’s water requirement for around two months — as their catchment areas continued to receive three-digit rainfall.The collective storage in the four reservoirs — Panshet, Khadakwasla, Varasgaon and Temghar — surged to 12.21 TMC, or 42% of their total capacity. On the corresponding day last year, they held 19 TMC of water, or 65% of their capacity. The four dams in the Khadakwasla circle have a combined storage capacity of 29.15 TMC.Khadakwasla dam’s storage touched 90% on Tuesday afternoon, prompting the irrigation department to release water into the canal at a rate of 500 cusecs. The department also alerted the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and residents living along the Mutha river about the possibility of water being released from the dam into the river if heavy rainfall continues in its catchment.Panshet, Varasgaon and Temghar dams each received around 200mm of rainfall, while Khadakwasla recorded about 100mm between Monday morning and Tuesday morning.The catchment areas continued to receive intense spells throughout Tuesday. Irrigation department officials said water levels in all four dams are expected to rise further as inflows remain strong.“On Monday, around 13 dams recorded more than 100mm of rainfall. The intensity increased overnight and continued till Tuesday morning. Mulshi and Pavana received over 400mm of rain each. As many as 15 dams recorded three-digit rainfall in the 24 hours ending Tuesday morning. Storage levels in several reservoirs have increased considerably, and we are closely monitoring the situation. As of now, there are no plans to release water from major dams around Pune except Khadakwasla,” an irrigation department official said.Meanwhile, the irrigation department released water from three dams in Pune district on Tuesday after their storage reached around 90% of capacity. Water was released from Vadivale at 6,600 cusecs, Kalmodi at 1,884 cusecs and Kasarsai at 1,334 cusecs.Some relief for Pimpri Chinchwad as Pavana, Andra storage crosses halfway markRelief may be in sight for Pimpri Chinchwad as water storage in Pavana and Andra dams crossed the halfway mark on Tuesday. Pavana reached 59% of its capacity, while Andra touched 62%.Mulshi, Pavana receive over 400mm rainfallMulshi and Pavana dams each recorded more than 400mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending Tuesday morning. The cumulative rainfall at both reservoirs has now crossed the 1,500mm mark. The irrigation department said cumulative rainfall at all other major dams has also increased following four consecutive days of heavy rain. Most major reservoirs have recorded over 500mm of rainfall since June 1.
