Pune, known for its picturesque landscapes, is currently facing a severe water storage crisis, and the situation is far from promising. Among the 26 dams in the region, the Nazare dam stands bone-dry, symbolizing the pressing issue at hand. The collective useful water storage in the remaining 25 dams is now at 158.66 TMC, a concerning drop of 43.37 TMC compared to the same period last year.
Last year, the Pune district’s dams boasted a total water storage of 202.03 TMC, with an available water stock of 102 per cent. However, this year, the available water storage has plummeted by 22.01 per cent. Excluding the six dams owned by the Tata Group, the 26 remaining dams play a pivotal role in the region’s water supply.
The major dams, including Ujani Dam, Bhama Askhed Dam, Manikdoh Dam, Chaskaman Dam, Pawna Lake, Mulshi Dam, Temghar Dam, Varasgaon Dam, Panshet Dam, Gunjwani Dam, Nira-Deoghar Dam, Bhatghar Dam, Veer Dam, and others, collectively have a projected useful water storage capacity of 198.34 TMC.
The Khadakwasla Dam Project, crucial for supplying drinking water to Pune city, consists of four dams – Temghar Dam, Varasgaon Dam, Panshet Dam, and Khadakwasla Dam. Currently, their combined water storage is 26.59 TMC, reflecting a decrease of 1.88 TMC compared to the same period last year.
Ujani Dam, a vital water source, currently holds 27.31 TMC of usable water, which is 50.98 per cent of its total water storage capacity. This indicates a decrease of 32.32 TMC in Ujani Dam’s water storage compared to last year.
