Water stock in Maharashtra dams dips to 22 per cent

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The average water stock in nearly 3,000 dams across Maharashtra has declined to 22 per cent of their total storage capacity, with the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division recording the lowest at 9.06 per cent, according to an official report on Wednesday.

As of Wednesday, the Maharashtra 2,997 dams had 22.64 per cent of their total storage capacity available for use. This current stock is 9.17 per cent lower than the same day last year, which was 31.81 per cent, reported PTI.

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According to the report, dams in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar have the lowest average stock of all of the state's six water divisions (9.06 per cent). The Pune division ranks second with 16.35 per cent, followed by Nashik at 24.50 per cent, Konkan at 35.88 per cent, Nagpur at 38.41 per cent, and Amravati at 38.96 per cent.

BMC Imposes water cuts as lake levels drop below 10 pc

Meanwhile, due to lake levels falling below 10 per cent, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to impose a water curtailment beginning May 30. As a preventive move to extend the available water stock, the civic body will adopt a 5% water cut beginning at the end of May and a 10 per cent cut starting on June 5.

A recent report stated that a water cut was impending due to low water storage in all seven dams. Currently, 1,40,202 million litres of water are accessible, accounting for only 9.69 per cent of the total capacity of 14,47,363 million litres.

"In 2021 and 2022, the monsoon was active until October 15." However, in 2023, there was relatively little rain in October. As a result, the water stock is approximately 5.64 per cent lower this year than last," according to a BMC official. He further stated that the BMC is continuously monitoring the water stock and adjusting the daily delivery accordingly.

The state administration has permitted the usage of an additional 1,37,000 million litres from the Bhatsa Dam and 91,130 million litres from the Upper Vaitarna Dam, thus there is no need to be concerned. Furthermore, the Indian Meteorological Department has projected a punctual arrival of the monsoon this year, which is good news.

However, the BMC has chosen to execute the water cut as a precaution due to recent increases in temperatures, rising evaporation rates, and a water storage of less than 10%. Last year, the state government approved 1.5 lakh gallons of conserved water from these two lakes, and the BMC did not declare a water cut in May. However, because the monsoon was delayed and water stocks continued to diminish, the BMC implemented a 10% water cut on July 1.

The BMC's water supply to Thane, Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation, and nearby villages would also be reduced by 5% and 10%, respectively, beginning on the indicated dates. The water cut will remain in force until satisfactory rainfall is received and the water bodies' stocks improve.