Pune: The State Water Resources Department has started releasing water from the Khadakwasla reservoir for Daund, Haveli, Indapur and Baramati talukas, even though the four dams supplying drinking water to Pune are filled 55 per cent of their capacity. The water discharge started at around 5 pm on Thursday. Initially, 500 cusecs water was released.
According to the Water Resources Department, the release of water is part of the rotation for agriculture and drinking for the residents in these talukas.

Since the catchment areas of Khadakwasla, Panshet, Varasgaon and Temghar  dams have been receiving incessant rain for the past one week, the water storage in the dams increased to 55 per cent from 28 per cent.

Water Resources Department Executive Engineer PB Shelar, who is also the nodal officer for the Flood Control Cell, told Sakal Times that the discharge of water would be increased to 1,250 to 1,300 cusecs.

He said the rain is subdued now but the inflow of water into the dams will continue for the next few days. “The monsoon is active. The Water Resources Department will have to release water for the Kharif season as a part of the rotation. However, the next rotation will be decided only after the canal committee meeting,” Shelar said.

Till Thursday evening, total water storage in the four dams was 16.21 TMC ft.