Pune: The collective storage of four key dams – Khadakwasla, Panshet, Varasgaon and Temghar – slipped by 1 TMC to 28.2 TMC from 29.15 TMC.Among the four dams, Khadakwasla dam witnessed the highest reduction, from 100% to 54% storage capacity and lost 1 TMC. The collective storage now stands at 96.8%. The reason behind such a reduction was scanty rainfall in the catchment areas in the last three weeks.Three upstream dams, Temghar, Panshet, and Varasgaon, generally receive good rainfall spells from mid-Aug to mid-Sept. They have recorded less than 100mm of rainfall this year since Sept 1. The Khadakwasla dam received merely 5mm of rain since Sept 1.Officials from the irrigation department said the water levels have dropped primarily because there was hardly any inflow into any of the reservoirs; at the same time, the dams were releasing water for the city and rural areas to meet daily requirements. The water release into the rivers, however, has stopped.The water stock in four dams had reached their full capacities in July following downpours. The dams continued to hold 100% water stock till the last week of Aug. The drop has been recorded mainly after Sept 1.Sources from the irrigation department said Sept was a crucial month in terms of water storage in dams. The rainfall received in the catchment areas towards Sept-end and till mid-Oct helps maintain water storage near full capacity. The better storages in dams towards mid-Aug reduce chances of water cuts to urban and rural pockets.The irrigation department data showed that the dams had received good rainfall till Sept-end last year, and the reservoirs were at 100%. This year the storages were already down by one TMC and rainfall at dam sites was yet to return.Meanwhile, officials from the irrigation department said they were monitoring the water levels in all dams around Pune and expected rain to return to catchments in the next couple of weeks. The water release for rural areas would continue for the next few days. A further call on water planning would be taken in Oct, officials said.
