Dams in Nagpur division have highest water storage in State

A file photo of Kamthi-Khairy dam.

By Kaushik Bhattacharya :

Nagpur division has the highest storage of water at 37.77 per cent which was just 6.24 per cent in 2019

Totladoh has 74.04 per cent of water storage

Even as the coronavirus situation in Maharashtra is grim, there is some solace for the State that water storage in dams are at good position as it has reported more than three times as compared to the last year. There are total 3,267 dams in Maharashtra including major, medium and minor dams. The total water storage available in these dams is 24.34 per cent which is more than three times as compared to last year. This year, the dams in Nagpur division are holding the highest amount of water with 37.77 per cent which was just 6.24 per cent in 2019.

Out of 5,579.38 million cubic metres storage capacity, the 384 dams of Nagpur Division have 1,740.04 million cubic metres water stored on June 4 which is the highest in the State. Konkan division is the second in the list with 35.97 per cent. Konkan has 176 dams and the total water storage capacity of these dams is 3,671.50 Mcum in which the current live storage is 1,262.56 Mcum. Pune division is last in the list with just 19.37 per cent. According to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Vidarbha received more than normal rainfall during pre-monsoon period this year which also raised the water level in all dams in the district. The Weather Department also declared April and May the coolest months so far.

The State had faced successive years of drought over the past few years. However, most parts of the State had received good rainfall in 2019. The five major dams in Nagpur district, which too witnessed dry stretches when the temperature soared last year, have a present 959.27 Mcum live stock, that is 47.96 per cent of their total stock of 1664.59 Mcum. The same water stock was 8.98 per cent last year. The Totladoh dam and Kampti-Khairy dams, the main irrigation and drinking water provider to Nagpur district, which ran into dead storage last year, have reported 74.04 per cent and 81.07 per cent of their respective total useful stock holding capacity now. Similarly, Wadgaon dam is also having 48.03 per cent water of its respective total useful stock holding capacity now. IMD predicted normal monsoon this year and even before the start of monsoon the available of water level gave a sigh of relief to the farmers as well as the administration.