Water crisis deepens in Dharashiv, only 5 of 226 projects hold over 50% stock
A September 16 irrigation department report shows most of Dharashiv district's dams and reservoirs are critically low on water this monsoon.
Water stock levels in irrigation projects across Dharashiv district have become a matter of concern. According to a September 16 report by the Water Resources Department, of the district's 226 large, medium and small irrigation projects combined, only 5 have more than 50 percent of usable water stock remaining. The remaining 220 projects have stock below 50 percent, and at several of these the stock has been recorded as completely zero, or "dry".
The monsoon season is still on, but rainfall over the past month and a half to two months has been below what was required, so the projects have not accumulated as much water as expected. This is likely to directly affect the kharif season as well as future irrigation and drinking water availability. Rainfall was intermittent in many parts of the district, so the flow of water from catchment areas into the projects remained insufficient.
Of the district's 226 projects, 1 is a large project, about 17 are medium projects, and 207 are small projects. The highest number of small projects is in Tuljapur taluka, which has 66. This is followed by Dharashiv with 41 and Umarga with 32 small projects. Bhoom has 20, Kalamb 16, Vashi 14, Lohara 12 and Paranda 6 small projects.
Among medium projects, Dharashiv, Bhoom and Tuljapur each have 3, Kalamb has 1, Paranda has 4 and Umarga has 3. Vashi and Lohara talukas have no medium projects recorded.
According to the report's classification, water stock in most of the district's projects is below 25 percent. At some places the stock is completely zero and has been recorded as "dry". This could create difficulties ahead for irrigated areas that depend on available water.
The Water Resources Department's report also notes specific technical issues at some projects. One project with an automatic gate has 93 percent stock, but the dam cannot fill to 100 percent because the gate opens on its own. Repair work is underway at some projects where the embankment has subsided, while at others, spillways have been broken for ongoing construction work. Some projects are still under construction. A large number of projects also fall short of expected stock because of reduced catchment area.
With very little water stock left in the district's projects, future rainfall will now prove decisive. If the catchment areas receive good rain, stock levels could rise, but if the spell of rain remains broken, it could affect irrigation as well as future drinking water planning.
The Water Resources Department's September 16 report has clarified the current water situation in the district's irrigation projects, and has underlined the need for careful use and planning of the water that is available.
