Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad are expected to face no water shortages over the coming year, thanks to the recent surge in rainfall which has significantly replenished the city’s seven key reservoirs. Following two days of relentless rain, the water levels in Khadakwasla, Panshet, Varasgaon, Temghar, Bhama Askhed, Pavana, and Andra dams reached full capacity by Sunday.
In response to reduced rainfall in the catchment areas, the irrigation department has since reduced water discharges from several dams to manage inflows more effectively. On Monday, the discharge rates from Khadakwasla, Mulshi, and Pavana dams were lowered, offering much-needed relief to areas previously inundated by high water levels along the Mutha, Mula, and Pavana rivers. Khadakwasla dam, which had been releasing water into the Mutha river at a peak rate of 45,000 cusecs on Sunday—the highest since 2019—saw a gradual reduction to 35,000 cusecs by Monday afternoon. This release was further decreased to 21,500 cusecs by the evening and 9,200 cusecs by night. The irrigation department indicated that these figures might fluctuate based on rainfall upstream.
Rainfall figures for the catchment areas showed a significant decline, with Khadakwasla recording just 1mm of rain and Panshet and Varasgaon receiving 5mm and 4mm respectively. Temghar reported 9mm of rainfall. Consequently, the discharge from Panshet and Varasgaon was reduced to 3,070 cusecs and 600 cusecs respectively, while Temghar’s discharge rate into Khadakwasla was adjusted to 1,270 cusecs. In light of the substantial inflow of water into the reservoirs, the Deputy Chief Minister instructed the irrigation department to regulate the water levels. By Monday evening, Khadakwasla’s live storage was reduced to 60%, with future levels expected to remain between 50% and 80%. Similar adjustments are being made at Panshet and Varasgaon to maintain water levels around 85%, ensuring adequate capacity for potential future increases in water discharge.
Over the past two days, the four dams within the Khadakwasla circle have collectively released 5 TMC of water into the Mutha river, contributing to a seasonal total exceeding 16 TMC. Additionally, 22 of the 26 dams in the Bhima basin have also discharged water, with Ujani dam nearing full capacity and releasing 60,000 cusecs into the Bhima river. Major dams such as Bhama Askhed, Andra, Bhor Bhatghar, Nira Devghar, Vir, and Dimbhe have all contributed to this substantial water release, marking a pivotal moment in managing the region’s water resources effectively.
