Pune: The Hutatma Babu Genu Reservoir, also known as Dimbhe Dam, has reached near full capacity due to persistent rainfall over the past week.
On Sunday, August 4th, at 11:30 AM, the dam was reported to be 93.47% full. As a precautionary measure, all five gates of the dam have been opened, releasing water into the Ghod River at a rate of 15,000 cusecs.
Prashant Kaduskar, the Executive Engineer of Dimbhe Dam, has urged farmers along the riverbanks to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions.
The Dimbhe Dam catchment area has received a total of 726 mm of rainfall so far, significantly contributing to the dam's current water levels. Although water has not yet been released into the right and left canals, the influx from hilly areas has been substantial, prompting warnings for residents near these canals to remain cautious.
The Ghod River features 25 Kolhapur-type weirs from Dimbhe Dam to Shirur. Datta Kokane, the Sub-engineer, along with other officers and staff, are continuously monitoring the water levels in the dam.
The irrigation department has emphasized the importance of ensuring that small children and elderly people stay away from the riverbanks and canal areas.
On the morning of August 4th, water was released from the dam in stages: 9,000 cusecs at 9:00 AM, 12,000 cusecs at 10:30 AM, and 15,000 cusecs at 11:30 AM. Kaduskar noted that if the heavy rainfall continues, the capacity to release water from the spillway into the Ghod River might increase further.
