PUNE: The water storage in Panshet and Pavana dams increased to 90% on Thursday, prompting the state irrigation department to issue an alert in the low-lying areas along Mutha, Mula and Pavana rivers in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad about a possible rise in the water levels in these rivers following discharge from the reservoirs.
The Pavana dam started releasing water into Pavana river at the rate of 1,617 cusecs on Thursday afternoon after its storage increased to 87% of its capacity. The dam received 25mm rainfall till the evening. The storage in Panshet reached 92.6% on Thursday evening. Officials in the irrigation department said water release from the Panshet dam could begin any time.
Water released from Panshet dam flows into Khadakwasla, from where it is released into the Mutha river. The storage in Khadakwasla has already reached its capacity. The irrigation department continued discharge from Khadakwasla at the rate of 1,929 cusecs on Thursday.
Water release was also initiated from Bhama Askhed dam, Pune city’s fifth source of water. Its stock reached 6.23 TMC on Thursday, which was 82.4% of its total capacity.
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials said they have alerted the citizens in the low-lying areas of Hingne, Vadgaon, Deccan Gymkhana, Kamgar Putala and Patil Estate slum about the possibility of an increase in discharge from the dam.
“We have identified chronic spots and possible locations in the low-lying areas, which might experience flooding. Teams have been deputed at every ward office to monitor the situation and relocate citizens from the flood-prone areas in case of a rise in water level,” a civic body official said.
Officials from the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) have also alerted the citizens staying along the Pavana river about a possible rise in water level following discharge from the dam.
An official from the irrigation department said, “We are monitoring the water levels and inflow of rain water in every dam. Discharge from dams will be increased in a phased manner. The discharge will be reduced if rainfall activity in the catchments drops.”
The collective storage in the four dams in the Khadakwasla circle reached 85.9% on Thursday evening. The storage in dams increased to 25.06 TMC as against their total capacity of 29.15 TMC.
Koyna discharge hiked, Krishna may cross danger mark
The increase in the discharge from Koyna dam to 49,000 cusecs is going to push water level of Krishna river once again above warning level and the residents along the banks of the river must remain alert said Sangli district collector Abhijeet Chaudhary on Thursday.
Sangli city municipal commissioner Nitin Kapadnis has even appealed citizens from localities which witness flood water when Krishna river attains 42, to not to return back to their homes and stay in the temporary shelters.
The irrigation department on Thursday morning increased the discharge from Koyna dam which is currently 86% filled. Chaudhary said, “The Krishna water level has dropped below the warning level of 40 feet at Irwin Bridge. However, since the dams upstream have started discharge, the river may breach the warning level again.”
