Nagpur: The 16 major dams in Nagpur Division have a total of 2,529.73 Mcum (Million Cubic Metres) live water storage whereas the total designed storage of these dams is 4,302.42 Mcum, according to the Water Resource Department of Government of Maharashtra. With this live storage, Nagpur division has 48.81% of stock.
Last year, on this date, the water storage in these dams was just 20.55 percent which is now more than double. However, with the highest water stock available in 16 major dams of Nagpur Division, water shortage in many villages in the division looms large this summer season. Like every year, this year also, the administration is concerned about providing water for irrigation in every corner of the division. The evaporation factor is also a big challenge for the administration amidst scorching summer months.
Dams in Amravati Division have the second highest water storage in the State with 45.44 percent. Out of 2,953.88 Mcum designed storage, Amravati division has 1,647.78 Mcum live water storage as of today. Last year, the Amravati division had 55.38 percent water stock which is now reduced by almost 10 percent this year.
Konkan Division, which witnessed the highest rainfall in Maharashtra, has 44.75 percent water storage in its dams which is third in the list. Last year Konkan had 47.40% stock which was higher than this year. Nashik (39.33%) and Pune (36.69%) are on fourth and fifth place in the list whereas Aurangabad division has the lowest, 21.52 percent water storage in its reservoirs.
Nashik, Pune and Aurangabad divisions had more water stock last year and this year, it has reduced. The total designed water storage of dams in Aurangabad division is 5,938.86 Mcum, of which, 2,361.37 Mcum live water is available in the division. The overall scenario of water stock in major dams of Maharashtra this year is 37.55 percent which is less water stock than the previous year (45.54%).
Similarly, four dams in Nagpur district – Kamptee Khairi, Khindsi, Totladoh and Wadgaon — have above 50% water storage on today’s date whereas Nand reservoir in the district has just 10% stock. Totladoh Dam, which is the major source of water for Nagpur district and Nagpur city, has 61 percent water stock which can cater the demand for more than one year. The reservoir has a total designed capacity of 1,166.93 Mcum and the live storage of the dam is 770.89 Mcum today.
On this date, Totladoh dam had zero stock like Kamptee Khairi and Khindsi dams of the district. Kamptee Khairi and Khindsi dams have 51.5 per cent and 62.7 percent water stock respectively. Wadgaon dam in Butibori area has 40.2 percent live storage as of today.
