Pune: The irrigation department has intensified surveillance along nearly 100km-long Mutha canal passing through Haveli, Daund and Indapur talukas to prevent water theft and illegal lifting, with water being released for rabi crops earlier than usual this year.
Irrigation department officials said judicious use of available resources was critical given the uncertain water situation. The officials said this was the first such early release in the past four years, reflecting growing concerns over rainfall deficiency and rising irrigation demand. This year’s water release plan is unlikely to mirror last year’s,” a senior official said.
The move comes amid below-normal rainfall across large parts of the region since last month, triggering a sharp rise in demand for irrigation water. In a significant departure from recent years, the release began in Sept, almost three weeks ahead of the usual mid-Oct schedule. The irrigation department, however, indicated that the water-release schedule could be revised depending on state govt directives. The department is continuously assessing reservoir stocks, rainfall forecasts and ground conditions before finalising further allocations. “Govt is reviewing the overall situation, including dam storage levels and rainfall predictions. Fresh instructions may be issued depending on how the situation evolves.
The four dams in the Khadakwasla circle currently hold 29.15 TMC of water, of which around 9 TMC is earmarked for supply to rural areas. The officials expected demand from villages to increase substantially during the rabi season due to the rainfall shortfall.