Weak rainfall makes civic body call meeting with irrigation dept

Weak rainfall makes civic body call meeting with irrigation dept

The weak monsoon conditions over the region and with catchments areas of Temghar, Varasgaon, Panshet and Khadakwasala dams receiving a mere 25 mm rainfall yesterday afternoon, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is mulling over implementing a 50 per cent water cut next week.

Rainfall Not too good: The Khadakwasala dam, which received 25 mm rainfall yesterday. File/Pic

The city is currently facing a 20 per cent cut and the PMC has called a special meeting with the irrigation department today to discuss further planning. According to V G Kulkarni, executive engineer, water supply, PMC, the water crisis might get worse if the region does not receive adequate rainfall in the next week.

“We are already enforcing a 20 per cent cut all over the city. We may increase the water cut by 30 to 40, or even 50 per cent if the monsoon does not get active in the next week,” Kulkarni said.

He added that Panshet and Khadakwasala dams have less than 1.25 thousand million cubic (TMC) feet of water and IMD Pune has predicted an active monsoon from tomorrow. Kulkarni said there would not be any drastic change till the irrigation department takes a decision based on the current water supply schedule.

“So far, there is no question of water supply to the city on alternate days,” he said. Avinash Surve, superintending engineer of the irrigation department, said, “As per state government orders, our responsibility is to provide water to the city till July 15.

For that we have only 1.25 TMC water stock in these four dams. The PMC has to take a decision on further planning for the city after July 15. Sunday afternoon’s rainfall was meagre and will not help to increase water level in these dams.”

Municipal commissioner Mahesh Pathak, Kulkarni, Surve and executive engineer Shivaji Bolbhat will be attending. “We will be discussing and probably finalising a new water supply schedule,” Pathak said.

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