Pune: The Khadakwasla cluster dams, comprising of Temghar, Varasgaon, Panshet and Khadakwasla Dams, has accumulated 26.93 TMC of water, reaching 92.40% of its capacity as of 5 PM on Wednesday (August 7). This is an increase of approximately one TMC compared to the same period last year.
On Monday (August 5), the water discharge from the Khadakwasla Dam was at 53.78% capacity. By Wednesday (August 7) evening, the storage had increased to 1.53 TMC, or 77.73% of its capacity.
During this time, 1005 cusecs of water were released through the canal, and after supplying water for drinking purposes, around half a TMC of water was added to the dam. The area received one millimeter of rainfall throughout the day.
In the Panshet Dam, 600 cusecs of water were released for electricity generation by 5 PM on Wednesday. The dam now holds 9.88 TMC of water, which is 92.79% of its capacity, with six millimeters of rainfall recorded throughout the day.
Similarly, the Varasgaon Dam also released 600 cusecs of water for electricity generation and now holds 11.81 TMC, or 92.14% of its capacity, with seven millimeters of rainfall recorded.
The Temghar Dam reached full capacity at 3.71 TMC as of 5 PM on Wednesday (August 7), with 1087 cusecs of water flowing over the spillway and 275 cusecs being used for electricity generation.
The area received nine millimeters of rainfall throughout the day. Overall, the Khadakwasla Dam chain holds a total of 26.93 TMC of water, or 92.40% of its capacity.
Sufficient Water Released for Pune's Annual Needs
Shweta Kurhade, Executive Engineer, Khadakwasla Irrigation Department stated, "Pune city requires approximately 18 TMC of water annually. By Monday evening, 17.86 TMC had been released from the Khadakwasla Dam, ensuring that the city’s water needs for the year are met. This volume of water could have supported two and a half agricultural cycles.
The water released into the Mutha River is not wasted; it flows to the Ujani Dam, which benefits multiple talukas in Solapur, Pune, and Ahmednagar districts. All dams in the Bhima basin share the responsibility of supplying water to the Ujani Dam.
According to weather department forecasts, this year’s rainfall was predicted to be 103% of the normal levels, and the actual rainfall has matched this prediction."