The dried up Bhima riverbed near Vitthalwadi village in Shirur taluka, where villagers had to call for a water tanker to perform the last rites of a neighbour
On Oct 24, the upstream Bhama Askhed dam released 20,000 cusecs to replenish the river, but Vitthalwadi by Tuesday, Oct 27, still hadn’t seen signs of water on the banks. Vitthalwadi has about 3,000 residents. The riverbed is dry, and we are waiting for the water released from Bhama Askhed to reach us. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Pune | Silver Rate in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune | Petrol Price in Pune | Diesel Price in Pune | CNG Price in Pune | LPG Price in Pune Stay updated with the latest Pune news.
Many said this was perhaps the first time they have seen the riverbed exposed in these parts. “We never even imagined the Bhima would be this dry so soon after a monsoon,” said Hiraman Gaware, former director of the Ghodganga sugar factory in the area. If this is the condition now, we worry about the coming months,” he said. Residents said the release of water from Bhama Askhed could recharge their stretch of the river. Until then, they said available water has to be distributed between irrigation, livestock and people. A strong retaining wall is necessary to protect the structure and ensure farmers can depend on it for irrigation,” social worker Madhukar Dorge from the Pateethan–Vitthalwadi belt said. Repairs that were carried out were temporary in nature, villagers said. Former Shirur Agricultural Produce Market Committee director Rahul Gaware, said: “Farmers depend on the river for irrigation, and our cattle too need water every day.
Pune: Barely 50km from the city, the stretch of the Bhima river that flows through Pune district has run completely dry, with parts of the riverbed now exposed. The gravity of the problem was laid bare recently at Vitthalwadi in Shirur taluka, where villagers had to call for a tanker to perform the last rites of a neighbour. “The situation is serious, which is why we had to call for a tanker for the dashakriya ritual. Downstream are about five similarly sized villages. The crisis has also brought the condition of the weir at Pateethan in Daund taluka back into focus. Water stored at the structure supports substantial agricultural land in Pateethan and Vitthalwadi areas. But the absence of a strong retaining wall along its side leaves the adjoining earthen embankment vulnerable to damage during floods. “The embankment at Pateethan gets damaged during floods almost every year. Temporary repairs will not fix the problem. Each passing day adds to uncertainty. Download the TOI App.
Earlier this year, a flooded Bhima river had washed away the embankment again.
We don’t know what’s going to happen to our fields and livestock,” said Dilip Gaware, a former deputy sarpanch of Vitthalwadi. We will have to use water very carefully, for irrigation, our animals and drinking purposes,” he said. The tanker that was called was for a deceased resident’s “tenth day” ritual.
“And this is just Oct; we have months to go. “A severe water crisis may unfold over the next few months. At the observance, villagers were stunned by what they saw – a completely dried up riverbed.