Pune: The civic administration may decide to further postpone resuming alternate-day water supply at its review meeting on Wednesday as the combined storage in four dams in the Khadakwasla circle crossed the 18 TMC-mark on Tuesday evening, roughly matching the city’s annual water quota.Mayor Manjusha Nagpure had last week deferred a decision on water cuts by a week, till July 22, saying Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) would review the situation based on updated reservoir levels. PMC sources said total storage in the four dams had reached 18.3 TMC (62% of total capacity), broadly equal to the city’s annual water quota, as PMC drew an average of 1.5 TMC a month.With rainfall continuing in the catchment areas, civic officials indicated that a decision on imposing water cuts could be pushed back by another fortnight as fresh inflows were expected to further improve reservoir levels over the coming days.Data from the state irrigation department showed a significant rise in rainfall across the catchments over the last two days. The three key reservoirs supplying water to Pune city (Temghar, Varasgaon and Panshet), each recorded more than 60mm of rainfall during the 24 hours ending Tuesday morning. According to IMD, the rainfall activity is expected to continue for the next few days.Citizens’ groups and corporators have urged PMC to avoid imposing restrictions at least till next month. The Sajag Nagrik Manch has written to PMC demanding that water cuts be deferred till mid-Aug, citing improving reservoir stocks and sustained rainfall in the catchment areas.The irrigation department has, however, advised PMC to continue exercising caution in water use despite the improved storage situation. “Reservoirs are yet to reach their full combined capacity of 29.1 TMC. There is still a shortfall of around 10 TMC, and current storage remains 4.5 TMC lower than last year’s level of 23 TMC. Water use should continue to be judicious,” an irrigation department official said.The department has, meanwhile, maintained water discharge into the Mutha Right Bank Canal at 1,000 cusec. Officials said the release was being made to support the annual Palkhi procession, which was expected to reach Pandharpur in Solapur district later this week.Pavana reservoir at 84% capacityWater storage in Pavana dam, the primary source of water for Pimpri Chinchwad, rose to 7.15 TMC (84% of its capacity) on Tuesday. The reservoir has received more than 1,600mm of rainfall so far this monsoon, resulting in a steady rise in water levels over recent days.Officials said there were currently no plans to release water from Pavana unless the reservoir reached full capacity. The irrigation department, however, released water from six other dams on Tuesday evening following heavy rainfall across several catchment areas.
