Dams full, but no respite from water cuts yet

Though deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar has made an announcement of withdrawal of water cuts in Pune, citizens will have to wait till Monday to get water twice a day.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is yet to receive a formal letter from the irrigation department intimating civic body to increase the water supply.

Due to poor rainfall over the past couple of years, the city is facing water cuts. However, good rainfall this year in the catchment areas of four dams - Khadakwasala, Panshet, Varasgaon and Temghar – has helped them fill to their capacity.

Various political parties and NGOs have been demanding withdrawal of water cuts. Responding to their demands, Pawar on Thursday announced withdrawal of water cuts for Pune.
PMC commissioner Mahesh Pathak said, “We are waiting for a letter from the irrigation department. Only after receiving the letter can we increase the supply of water.”

Pathak said that PMC had also requested the irrigation department not to include the quantity of water which is being released at present in the allotted quota of Pune as the city is not using the water.

Low-lying areas in twin town on high alert

The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) sounded a high alert to the residents living in the low lying areas after water levels rose considerably post water discharge from the Pavana and Mulshi dams on Friday.

Around 3,320 and 7,000 cusecs water was released from Pavana and Mulshi dams respectively at 8 am. Pavana dam had filled up to 94.98% of its capacity while Mulshi dam had filled up to 96.7%, stated the report of PCMC disaster management cell.

The civic body had activated its flood control cell at its head office to provide 24-hour service to citizens to tackle the flood-like situation in Pimpri-Chinchwad. The civic body has published the helplines and phone numbers for citizens to tackle the emergencies.

The additional commissioner of PCMC Tanaji Shinde said that the alert was sounded for 48 hours and the civic administration is prepared to handle all eventualities.

The civic staff was deployed for evacuation if necessary at the river side.

The civic officials appealed to citizens to avoid walking during the night near the bridge as the water enters forcefully and to also avoid standing below the trees or old buildings when heavy rains are lashing.

Pavana, Mula and Indrayani rivers flow in PCMC area. Majority of the  population in twin town lives along the river banks. In 2005, citizens were badly affected by the flood when hundreds living in low lying areas were evacuated.

PMC identifies 11 flood-prone areas in city

After irrigation department released 27,104 cusecs water from the Khadakwasla dam, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has issued an alert in 11 low lying areas where river water is likely to enter the houses.

The alert was issued at 5 am after the catchment areas of four dams - Khadakwasla, Panshet, Warasgaon and Temghar - recorded heavy rainfall and water level increased.

This is the highest quantity of water released from Khadakwasala dam during this monsoon so far. On Friday, Baba Bhide bridge and most areas along the river was submerged.

BB Lohar, executive engineer of Khadakwasala division, said, “There was heavy rainfall in the catchment area of all the four dams. Hence, we had to release 27,104 cusec water from Khadakwasala dam.”

After the irrigation department decided to release the water, PMC’s disaster management cell was contacted and alert was issued. Ganesh Sonune, disaster management cell officer of PMC, said, “Though we have not started evacuation in these areas yet, we have kept our staff ready. We have also identified 39 locations where people from low lying areas can be shifted in emergency.” Arrangements of electricity, water, food and medical aid in these 39 locations have been made,  Sonune added.

Areas on alert
Patil Estate slum area
Kamgar Putala slum
Phulenagar slum
Pulachiwadi slum
Khilare Patilnagar slum
Ambil Odha slum
Riverside area near Shivane
Katraj lake area
Old bridge near Aundh
Slum area near Harris bridge in Bopodi
Riverside area on Sinhgad Road

Flood threat: Traffic dept too on alert

Gearing up to tackle any adverse situation in case of a flood threat, the Pune traffic police department has identified low lying areas in the city and they are planning to take special measures for traffic situation.

The department has reserved 30 personnel, an assistant commissioner of police (ACP) and an inspector rank officer for night rounds in such areas. These personnel will watch out for any emergencey situation.

Speaking to dna, deputy commissioner of Police (traffic), Vishwas Pandhare said, “We are in constant touch with the disaster management team. If an area in the city gets submerged during floods, our team is prepared to handle the situation. Specially if such a situation arises during late evening hours, it can throw the traffic situation out of gear as many roads, particularly in the low lying areas and areas near the river bed may be closed. Our team is prepared to divert the traffic smoothly to alternate routes in such cases.”

“The areas near Bhide Bridge, Deccan, Laxmi Road, Karve Road, Kelkar Road have been identified as low lying areas. The traffic department has also advised people not to park their vehicles in these areas,” Pandhare added.

Temghar dam swells to 100% capacity

Incessant rains in the catchment areas saw Temghar dam filled to 100% capacity on Friday afternoon.

The dam that could hold 3.71 TMC water was only 28.05% filled on the same day last year.

The Khadakwasla system, including Khadakwasla, Panshet, Varasgaon and Temghar dams, that provides water to the city was filled to 97.76% capacity (28.50 TMC water) on Friday.
Khadakwasla division executive engineer BB Lohar said, “All the dams have received good rainfall during this season so far.”
The catchment areas of Temghar and Khadakwasla dams received 15 mm and 2 mm rainfall on Friday.
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Dam stock
Temghar: 3.71 TMC water (100%)
Khadakwasla: 1.91 TMC water (96.87%)
Panshet: 10.42 TMC water (97.80%)
Varasgaon: 12.46 TMC water (97.21%)

Lesser rains on Friday; but showers may go on for another 24 hrs

Even as the Indian Metereological Department (IMD) recorded 1.7 millimetre rainfall in Pune on Friday, the weather bureau has predicted that the city will receive occasional showers in the next 24 hours.
Speaking about the current monsoon trend, Satish Gaonkar, Scientist E of Weather forecasting department says, “The current progress of monsoon is strong and the city will receive frequent spells of rain with the probability between 51% to 75%.”

IMD has also issued a warning of heavy to very heavy rains at isolated places in Konkan and Goa region in the next 24 hours. However, it has not issued any such warning for Marathwada and Vidarbha areas.

While IMD recorded 17.4 mm of rainfall in Pune on Thursday, the rainfall activity decreased in Pune with IMD recording 1.7 mm of rainfall on Friday.