Shendgewadi lake in Shirur taluka has remained completely dry for five months, while residents of Shendgewadi and Alegaon Paga have asked the irrigation department to release water from the Chasakaman dam before the region faces severe shortages during Diwali. The demand was reported by Lokmat – Pune on October 7, based on statements from local residents.
Residents said the two lakes depend almost entirely on water released through the Chasakaman irrigation rotation. If the rotation is not provided, both reservoirs can remain dry through the year, they said. According to the report, Shendgewadi lake often dries within two months of the end of the monsoon, prompting villagers to describe the area as being affected by a recurring drought-like condition.
The villagers have sought the release of water through Canal No. 19 in the Ambale area. The proposed route would carry water through the Uralkgaon, Kolpe Vasti and Tambe Vasti areas to the Alegaon Paga and Shendgewadi settlement lakes. Residents have also asked that the canal near Alegaon Paga and Vhavare be used to fill both lakes to their full capacity.
The lakes are important not only as surface water storage but also for groundwater recharge, according to the residents quoted in the report. When the reservoirs receive water, water levels in nearby borewells and wells rise significantly. The surrounding area has several agricultural wells, making the condition of the lakes directly relevant to irrigation as well as household water availability.
Residents warned that if water is not released from the upper areas, farmers and households could face shortages during the Diwali period. They have appealed to local MLA Mauli Aba Katke to intervene and secure a Chasakaman rotation for the two lakes. The report does not include a response from the MLA or the irrigation department confirming whether water will be released.
The villagers have also asked the government to restrict excessive pumping after the lakes are filled and to prevent unauthorised lifting of water. They said such controls would help preserve the stored water for the following four months. Balasaheb Waghchaure, quoted in the report, asked the MLA to ensure that water is released through the canal rotation and that Shendgewadi lake is filled to capacity. The next decision rests with the irrigation authorities and local representatives responsible for scheduling the Chasakaman rotation.
