Supply issues unlikely till next monsoon, but judicious water use should continue: Irrigation dept

Pune: Irrigation department officials on Thursday said they did not foresee any water issues for the urban and rural areas dependent on the four dams in the Khadakwasla circle till next monsoon as all the four reservoirs were filled to the brim, with one month still at hand before the season to end.
PMC officials said they would again put forth their demand for additional water for the city at a forthcoming joint meeting, which is expected to be held next month."The efforts are on to reduce water losses and plug the leakages in the distribution network. Last year was challenging owing to less stock in the dams. But, in spite of the adverse situation, we managed without any water cuts," a senior civic official said.
The irrigation department will soon stop water release from the Khadakwasla dam into the Mutha canal for kharif cultivation as the water demand for crops has been fulfilled. Even the discharge for rabi crops, which is usually initiated in Oct, is expected to be delayed this year, if rainfall continues in the district.
"The water discharge into the Mutha canal will be stopped soon. We are yet to decide the schedule for the winter crops. But, the discharge will not begin by mid-Oct if rainfall continues in the command areas. We don't foresee any supply issues for the city, but the civic administration should continue judicious use of water," an official said.
The four dams in the Khadakwasla circle can store 29.15 TMC of water. On Thursday, the collective stock stood at 29.12 TMC.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) lifts around 19-20 TMC water annually from the Khadakwasla dam. The civic officials said they did not expect any curtailment in supply for the city till next monsoon. "In fact, we are looking to seek more water quota, considering increased population and inclusion of surrounding areas into the PMC limits," another civic official said.
Over the last two months, 30 TMC of water has been discharged from the Khadakwasla dam into the Mutha river. According to irrigation department's plan till monsoon-end, water stock in major dams like Varasgaon, Panshet, Temghar and Bhama Askhed will be maintained at 90-100% of their individual capacities.