Maharashtra Dams Reach Last Year’s Rainfall Average

Mumbai: Heavy rainfall across Maharashtra in August has brought significant relief to the state’s reservoirs, with dam catchment areas receiving substantial rainfall over the past week. The state has now nearly matched last year’s rainfall average, easing concerns over water availability in several regions.

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The six divisional regions of Nagpur, Amravati, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik, Pune and Konkan have received satisfactory rainfall in their dam catchment areas. Around 32 million cubic metres of rainfall was recorded across these regions during the past week, resulting in a noticeable rise in reservoir storage.

Across nearly 3,000 dam catchment areas, heavy rainfall during the week has provided a major boost to water levels. According to the available figures, Maharashtra has received 72% of its annual rainfall so far, compared with 73% during the same period last year. The gap has therefore narrowed to just one percentage point.

June Rainfall Deficit Recovered

The rainfall deficit created by weak rainfall in June has largely been compensated for by strong showers during July and August. With consistent rainfall in several parts of the state, the water storage position in major reservoirs has now become satisfactory.

During the past week alone, the state’s reservoirs recorded an average increase of around 30.04 TMC in water storage. The continued rainfall has pushed Maharashtra closer to last year’s overall rainfall average.

Koyna, Jayakwadi Among Major Reservoirs With Strong Storage

Several major dams across Maharashtra have recorded substantial water storage.

Koyna Dam: 100.12 TMC
Jayakwadi Dam: 76.66 TMC
Pench Project: 44.56 TMC
Isapur Dam: 34.64 TMC
Gosikhurd Dam: 26.14 TMC
Khadakwasla Dam: 25.25 TMC
Mula Dam: 21.50 TMC
Upper Wardha Dam: 19.92 TMC
Bhandardara Dam: 10.74 TMC

The rainfall recorded across different parts of Maharashtra has significantly improved inflows into dam catchment areas. Konkan, Western Maharashtra, Marathwada and parts of Vidarbha have particularly benefited from the recent rainfall, resulting in increased water storage.

More Rain Could Further Boost Reservoir Levels

With around one and a half months of the monsoon season still remaining, further rainfall could lead to another significant rise in reservoir levels across the state.

The rainfall forecast for the remaining period is estimated at around 80% to 85% of the average, raising expectations of continued improvement in water storage. If the rainfall pattern remains favourable, several reservoirs could witness further inflows in the coming weeks.

Mumbai’s Water-Providing Dams Also See Rise

The six major reservoirs supplying water to Mumbai have also witnessed an improvement in their storage levels. The current water stock in these reservoirs stands at around 92% of capacity, with approximately 74.41 million cubic metres of water stored.

However, the storage in Mumbai’s water-supplying reservoirs is still around one percentage point lower than last year. Continued rainfall in the catchment areas will therefore remain important for maintaining adequate water reserves for the city in the coming months.

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