Pune: The collective storage of four key dams – Khadakwasla, Panshet, Varasgaon and Temghar – slipped by 1 TMC to 28.2 TMC from 29.15 TMC.
Among the four dams, Khadakwasla dam witnessed the highest reduction, from 100% to 54% storage capacity and lost 1 TMC. The collective storage now stands at 96.8%. They have recorded less than 100mm of rainfall this year since Sept 1. The Khadakwasla dam received merely 5mm of rain since Sept 1.
Sources from the irrigation department said Sept was a crucial month in terms of water storage in dams. The reason behind such a reduction was scanty rainfall in the catchment areas in the last three weeks. Three upstream dams, Temghar, Panshet, and Varasgaon, generally receive good rainfall spells from mid-Aug to mid-Sept. The rainfall received in the catchment areas towards Sept-end and till mid-Oct helps maintain water storage near full capacity.
The irrigation department data showed that the dams had received good rainfall till Sept-end last year, and the reservoirs were at 100%. This year the storages were already down by one TMC and rainfall at dam sites was yet to return.