Water cuts withdrawn, Pune to get water twice a day

From today, city gets 1,350 MLD

Puneites will finally get water supply twice a day. Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday announced withdrawal of water cuts in the city from Friday.

The water cuts were imposed 16 months ago from March 1, 2012.
Pawar held a meeting with Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation (MKVDC) officials in Mumbai regarding the water situation in the four dams, Khadakwasala, Panshet, Warasgaon and Temghar that provide water to Pune. After the meeting, Pawar announced that the water cuts will be withdrawn from Friday and the city will get water supply twice daily.

The city faced water cuts from March 1, 2012 due to less rain in the monsoon season of 2011. Due to the low level of water in all four dams, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) imposed 20 per cent water cuts from March 1. After reviewing the water situation in the four dams after the monsoon of 2012, the PMC revised its decision on water cuts and decided to impose 10 per cent water cuts.

However in this year’s monsoon, the city received good amount of rain, particularly in the catchment area of the four dams. All the dams are nearly 100 per cent filled to capacity. Various political parties and NGOs were demanding withdrawal of water cuts after the water level in the dams improved.

VG Kulkarni, head of PMC’s water department said, “We are waiting for the letter from the irrigation department regarding supplying more water to the city after which the PMC will start supplying water two times a day.”

Pune was getting 1,150 million litres per day (MLD) water but now with withdrawal of the water cuts, the city will get 1,350 MLD water.
 

Dams already full by July-end
According to officials of the irrigation department, this is probably for the first time these dams are nearly filled to capacity by July-end. The Khadakwasala, Temghar, Warasgaon and Panshet dams are over 98 per cent full. IS Choudhari, superintending engineer of Pune irrigation circle told dna, “We have observed that these dams are generally filled to capacity somewhere in mid-August. However, this is probably for the first time that these dams are nearly filled to capacity.”
 

Bhide bridge submerges as 13,728 cusecs water released from Khadakwasla dam

The Baba Bhide bridge and the riverside road were submerged after 13,728 cusecs water was released from Khadakwasla dam on Thursday. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has kept its staff on alert, particularly at 11 spots where river water is likely to enter residences.

The PMC has activated 12 CCTV cameras that are installed at these spots to keep a watch on the water situation.

Ganesh Sonune, PMC’s disaster management cell officer said, “As of now no evacuation has been done, but we have kept our staff on alert. We have identified 11 spots where water enters households when the water level of the river crosses the flood mark. We have activated 12 CCTV cameras that are installed at these spots through which we are keeping a watch on these areas.”

Meanwhile, the four dams, Khadakwasla, Varasgaon, Panshet and Temghar that supply water to the city reached 28.63 thousand million cubic (TMC)  ft or 98.21% of total capacity on Thursday evening.

Last year by the end of July the collective storage of the reservoirs of the four dams were 10.78 TMC, only 36.99% of total capacity. This year the dams have already reached 98.21% of total capacity.
 

Man walks into Mutha river, gets swept away

On Thursday, an unidentified man was swept by the strong currents after he walked deep into the Mutha river near Panchaleshwar temple at Erandwane. Witnesses said they called him to return, but he ignored them and walked into the deep waters.

Erandwane fire brigade department received a call at 4 pm and they reached the spot within 10 minutes. More than five fire fighters tried to search for him for more than two hours but in vain.

Rajesh Jagtap, station officer of Pune fire brigade at Erandwane told dna, “After we reached the spot, we tried to search for the missing person. However, as the water level had increased and due to the strong currents, he may have been swept away.”

Jagtap added, “We have no details about him like his age or residence. Eyewitnesses told us he was consuming alcohol and started to walk in the river water. When they tried to call him, he ignored everyone and went in the river water and later started drowning. The people tried to help him but due to
the strong currents, they feared entering the river.”

Meanwhile, 12 fire fighters from Central fire brigade department and Yerawada fire brigade department searched for Ambika Bhosale (17) and her friend Arvind Somnath Sonawane, who were swept away in the gushing waters of the Mula-Mutha river on Wednesday at Sangamwadi bridge.

Fire department officials said, ”More than 12 fire fighters tried to search for the bodies in the river water for more than eight hours. However we were unable to find them. I fear that due to the strong currents, the bodies might have been swept away.”

City gets 345 mm more rainfall than last year

Thanks to the continuing downpour, the city received 453.5 mm rainfall in June and July. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) claims the city received a surplus of +131.8 mm rainfall compared to last year during the same period.

Last year, in June, Pune received 34.5 mm rainfall and in July 73.4 mm. This year the city received 261.6 mm in June and 191.9 mm rainfall in July.

IMD officials said, “So far this year, the city received +131.8 mm rainfall in June and July. Last  year, it was -198.6 mm as compared to normal rainfall.”

The officials added, “The rainfall pattern has been intermittent or few showers with an occasional heavy spell. Almost every week, we have had the formation of a low pressure area in the northwest Bay of Bengal which has resulted in good rainfall in the city.”

Fisherman braves gushing Nira river to save wife

In a heroic incident, the husband of a 30-year-old pregnant woman, who was stranded in the gushing waters of the Nira river after discharge of water from Bhatghar dam nearly 50 km from Pune, struggled for eight hours to rescue her.

Fire brigade officers said though the woman was stuck in the waters at 4 pm, it wasn’t until 8.30 pm that they were informed. Fire brigade officers rushed to Bhor, but were delayed by traffic. However, the woman was fished out of the waters by her husband by the time they reached the spot.

The woman was identified as Baydabai Maruti Mukne by Bhor police station. Pune fire brigade officer DN Nagalkar who travelled to Bhor said, “By the time we reached there, her husband had already rescued her.”

Ashok Wandekar, inspector incharge of Bhor police station said, “At 3.30 pm on Wednesday, Mukne had gone to the river bed for fishing along with her husband. It’s a fishing area and many locals were there as well. Due to the heavy rain, the gates of the dam automatically opened at 4 pm and 10,000 cusecs water was released. As the water level started rising, the fishermen started to cross the river. However, Mukne was the last and could not cross to a safe place. She got stuck on a rock where the dam water meets the river.”

The officials sent food and water to Mukne via ropes. “Her husband took the help of locals and sent kerosene and other material to her for lighting a fire,” added Wandekar.

Tehsildar Ram Chobe and officials of the irrigation department reached the spot. They  waited for the water to recede.
“As it was taking time to rescue her, Chobe summoned the Pune fire brigade officials.

At Wednesday midnight, the water slowed down. This was taken advantage of by Mukne’s husband who reached the rock with the help of a rope. He crossed the danger line and brought her safely to the river bank.”