Pune: The scheduled release of water from the Khadakwasla dam for winter crops, typically set for Oct 15, has been postponed by at least two weeks owing to extended rainfall this monsoon. The release is now expected to begin only by month-end.Irrigation department officials said they were yet to receive any formal water release request from the rural areas, which continued to receive substantial rainfall till last week. “We are currently assessing water storage levels (as of Oct 15) to formulate a distribution plan for both the urban and rural regions over the coming months,” an official said.According to the officials, the combined storage in the four dams under the Khadakwasla circle was at 100% on Tuesday. A final decision regarding the water release will be taken during the canal committee meeting, which will be chaired by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who also serves as the district’s guardian minister. The meeting is expected to take place after Diwali.“The Khadakwasla dam will begin releasing water in Nov to support winter sowing in the agricultural regions of Haveli, Daund and Indapur. The release is expected to continue for over a month, helping expedite farming activities after Diwali,” another irrigation department official said. An irrigation department report on Tuesday stated that the Khadakwasla dam discharged 28 TMC of excess water into the Mutha river during the monsoon, following substantial rainfall across all four dam catchments. Temghar dam recorded the highest rainfall at 3,280mm, followed by Varasgaon and Panshet dams with 2,230mm each. Khadakwasla dam received 860mm of rainfall since June.Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) stated that there were no anticipated water cuts for the city, given the satisfactory water levels in all the four dams. Although the schedule for the canal committee meeting is yet to be announced, PMC officials are preparing to present their water-related demands, including higher annual water quota for the city.In addition to the Khadakwasla group of dams, the Bhama Askhed dam, which supplies water to eastern parts of the city, is currently at full capacity. Pavana and Andra dams, which cater to Pimpri Chinchwad, also reported 100% storage as of Tuesday. Sources within the city’s political circles said both the urban and rural areas were unlikely to face water shortages in the coming months, especially with civic and zilla parishad elections approaching.Storage in 21 dams at 100%Live water storage in 21 of 25 major dams in the Bhima basin was at 100% on Tuesday. These dams included Bhatghar, which supplies water to areas of Purandar, Nira Devghar and Gunjawani, Ujani, which provides water to Solapur and adjacent areas, Dimbhe, which supplies water to areas around Shirur, and Nazare, which provides water to parts of Purandar. Pimpalgaon Joge and Manikdoh were the only two dams with live water stock less than 90%.
