Water storage in Totladoh depletes to all time low of 6 per cent
| Date :20-Mar-2019 |
By Ramesh Marulkar,
Citizens may suffer severe water crunch during summer months
The citizens will face moderate to severe water scarcity during the summer months as the water storage in Totladoh irrigation project has depleted to all time low of six per cent, that is, 62 mmc (million metre cube), as on Tuesday. There is no chance now to release drinking water from this dam in view of depleting water level and refusal by Madhya Pradesh officials to supply any amount of water from their Chaurai dam. The water level in Totladoh dam has dwindled so much so that water cannot be released for Nagpur city through the gates. The city is getting water from its lower dam - Navegaon Khairi - situated near Parseoni, where the water storage is 32 per cent i.e. 47 mmc.
Pea-hens quenching their thirst at a waterhole in Salama area. (Right) One of the tankers engaged in filling up of water in saucer-shaped waterholes in East Pench Forest Range
The officers of Water Resources Department have reserved drinking water in Navegaon Khairi dam for the citizens. They have stopped releasing water for agriculture purpose during Rabi season to farmers. However, they are supplying drinking water to municipal councils in the district as well as required water to Koradi and Khaparkheda Thermal Power Stations for power generation purpose. This was disclosed by Mukund Dange, Deputy Executive Engineer, Water Resources Department (Pench), while talking to ‘The Hitavada’ on Tuesday. The hydro-electric plant at Totladoh has also been kept closed in view of water scarcity. The department will monitor stock of the water in Navegaon Khairi lower dam during the harsh months to come and adopt measures for judicial use of this life-giving force. Dange said, Chaurai dam in MP is situated upstream of Totladoh that helped in trapping and increasing water capacity. Previously, Maharashtra used to get more than the allocated share as MP was not storing water, he said adding that the department would have to be extra careful till June.
Dwindling water level in Pipariya Lake. Wild animals can pull on for another two months at this water source.
Nagpur district experienced less rainfall than the average yearly rainfall of 1064 mm that ultimately resulted in stocking comparatively less amount of water. Now, MP has stopped releasing water from Pench river due to construction of Chaurai dam, creating further problems, Dange pointed out. The water cannot be released through the dam if the levels goes below ten per cent of storage. The department is supplying water for agriculture purpose in emergency from Khindsi lake near Ramtek, where a water stock of 11 mmc is available. Totladoh has as good as dead stock of water.
This has increased worries of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) which is supplying 650 MLD water to the city from Pench and Kanhan reservoirs. Despite tall claims, 30 per cent of this water is lost during supply due to leakages, other technical reasons, and illegal connections as against 15-20 per cent norm finalised by the, Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MMWRRA). NMC is spending a huge sum of Rs 225 crore every year on potable water supply. The civic body is spending Rs 72 crore on electricity, Rs 12 crore towards raw water, Rs 106 crore on operation and maintenance and Rs 35 crore on water supply through tankers. But with water level touching all time low, the city is likely to face a severe water crisis.