Pune News: Despite the monsoon arriving only on June 18, late by over three weeks as compared to last year when the monsoon hit the district as early as May 31, the storage levels in 24 reservoirs across Pune are comfortably high. While the intensity of rain this year has been far greater, also less water has been drawn for irrigation purposes.

While last year Panshet had received 290 mm rainfall till June 28, this year it has already crossed 447 mm. Similarly Temghar received 280 mm rain last year, while this year it’s almost double that already at 532 mm.

“Most dams in Pune district have received around 10 per cent more rainfall this year compared to the same period last year,” said Vijay Ghogare, executive engineer of the Khadakvasla irrigation division.

This has resulted in the rise of storage levels of the reservoirs. Last year, on June 28, Panshet had 1.12 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft) of water, while this year it has 2.17 tmc ft. Similarly, at Varasgaon, it’s gone up from 1.32 tmc ft to 1.65 tmc ft this year, at Khadakvasla from 0.34 tmc ft to 0.52 tmc ft and at Pavana, from 3.01 tmc ft to 3.30 tmc ft.

According to Ghogare, unlike last year there is less demand for irrigation from the reservoirs. “This year the districts of Haveli, Daund, Indapur and Baramati received good rainfall and did not need reservoir waters which is another reason why the levels are high,” he said.

If the intensity of the rains continues then the reservoirs will get filled sooner this year, said Ghogare. Last year, waters were released from Khadakvasla spillway on July 3, from Panshet and Varasgaon on June 29. “There is no reason to worry as Pune is well protected against floods,” he said.

While Temghar, Panshet, Khadakvasla and Varasgaon reservoirs are used for irrigation and drinking purposes, Pavana, Mulshi and Kasarsai are used for flood control in Pune city. The entire district, falling in the Bhima basin, has around 24 dams.