Pune: Heavy Rain Boosts Water Storage In Khadakwasla Dam Project
Pune: Khadakwasla Dam Reduces Discharge to 32,290 Cusecs
In a significant development for Pune’s water supply, the Khadakwasla Dam project has seen a substantial increase in water storage due to heavy rainfall in its catchment area. Over the last 24 hours, the reservoir has accumulated 1.45 Thousand Million Cubic feet (TMC) of water, bringing the total storage to 10.12 TMC. This surge is crucial as it now ensures sufficient water supply for Pune for the next seven and a half months.
The project, comprising Khadakwasla, Panshet, Temghar, and Varasgaon dams, had witnessed dwindling water reserves, totaling 3.50 TMC recently. However, recent heavy rains have replenished the reservoirs significantly. Just a few days ago, on July 7th, the storage stood at 6.50 TMC, rising further to 8.67 TMC by July 10th. Now, with 10.12 TMC stored, the project boasts 1.45 TMC more than it did this time last year.
Specifically, Khadakwasla received 11 mm of rainfall, contributing 1.19 TMC, while Panshet and Varasgaon received 18 mm each, adding 4.43 TMC and 3.58 TMC respectively. Temghar, receiving 35 mm, contributed 0.91 TMC to the storage.
This increase comes after a period of fluctuating rainfall, with a recent resurgence in precipitation significantly boosting the reservoirs. The management expects these levels to sustain Pune’s water needs effectively, considering last year’s storage on this date was only 8.34 TMC across all four dams.
The local authorities are monitoring the situation closely as the catchment area continues to receive heavy rains, which are critical for maintaining adequate water levels in the dams. This rise in water storage is a relief amidst concerns over water scarcity, highlighting the importance of timely and substantial rainfall in sustaining urban water resources.
