Khadakwasla dam
Generally, the irrigation department begins water release for rabi crops around Oct 15, after the official end of the monsoon. However, this time, water will flow into Mutha canal starting from Sept 25. Kiran Deshmukh, executive engineer at Khadakwasla irrigation circle, said, “Water was released for the palkhi procession from July 7-15. Thereafter, around 6.4 TMC water was released for kharif crops from July 16 to Sept 24. The release of water for winter crops will start in continuation of kharif release and continue for 45 days. The collective storage in four dams in Khadakwasla circle stood at 28 TMC on Thursday, 1 TMC less than last year’s storage.
Irrigation department officials said the move was due to less rainfall and possible damage to crops due to lack of water. Because of good spells of rainfall across the district, irrigation department sources said the situation this year is very much in contrast to the last couple of years, when the release of water for winter crops started in Nov, mainly. Pune: Scanty rainfall in recent weeks has led to water being released from Khadakwasla dam at least three weeks in advance for winter crops. 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.
The department has also received demands for water release from rural areas. Appeal to farmers to use less water The irrigation department has appealed to farmers to use less water against the backdrop of a drought-like situation. The department has also approached the district administration to impose prohibitive sections along areas of the Mutha canal and snap power supply to avoid water theft and illegal lifting. Download the TOI App.
This year, the release started at least two months earlier.
Water Release from Khadakwasla Dam to Alleviate Dry Spell
In a significant move, State Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil has approved the release of water from the Khadakwasla dam, set to continue for the next 45 days. This initiative aims to support areas in Indapur, Daund, and Haveli, which have experienced a month-long dry spell. The irrigation department will oversee the water release to prevent theft and ensure proper usage. Importantly, the department has confirmed that urban water supply will remain unaffected during this rural water discharge.