Pune: Dam regions yet to receive heavy rainfall; the current reserve is below average

Pune: Shivajinagar has already crossed June’s 184mm average monthly rainfall.

Despite heavy rains in the city until Sunday morning, the four dams’ intake regions have received below-average rainfall. Shivajinagar and Lohegaon received over 100mm of rain, while catchment areas received only two-digit rainfall. Khadakwasla received 59mm, followed by Temghar with 52mm, Varasgaon with 41mm, and Panshet with 39mm.

Officials from the irrigation department stated that since the rains in the catchment regions had not yet picked up acceleration, the water from the dams was being used for drinking. They further explained the difference in rainfall between catchments and city regions due to reservoirs located in mountain ranges, which did not experience the intense rainfall experienced by Pune, resulting in minimal water supply increase.

After catchment regions get at least 200 mm of rainfall, enough water should be able to percolate through the surface soil to raise the dam stock. Soil saturation brought on by prolonged heavy rains seeps into tributaries and streams that supply water to the dams. It takes three to four days of consistently heavy rains to fully saturate the soil and for enough runoff to reach the catchment regions.

However, as widespread rainfall only happens during extremely active monsoons, dam catchments might need to wait at least one extra week for major rainfall activity.

According to weather experts, Shivajinagar has already crossed June’s 184mm average monthly rainfall. But the ghats are still waiting for strong westerly winds that induce good rainfall in such areas. The city can expect good spells of rain in Pune ghats only after June 18.