Khadakwasla Dam discharge floods Pune housing society parking lots
The irrigation department had issued an alert about the possibility of water release, as there was a high influx into the Khadakwasla dam.
Dam water entered Dwarka and Jal Poojan Society in Ektanagari on Sinhagad Road and Krishna Residency in the Bhimnagar area. (Express Photo by Arul Horizon)
Water from the Khadakwasla Dam gushed into the parking lots of three housing societies in Pune Wednesday morning as the irrigation department opened the dam’s shutters after it was filled to capacity following heavy rain.
On Tuesday, the irrigation department issued an alert about the possibility of releasing water due to a high inflow into the dam. The water release began at midnight at a slow pace of 842 cusecs. The pace increased to 27,203 cusecs in the morning, and water started entering localities along the Mutha River.
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Dwarka and Jal Poojan Society in Ektanagari on Sinhagad Road and Krishna Residency in the Bhimnagar area of Kondhwe-Dhawade witnessed water gushing into their parking areas.
The riverbed road from Mhatre Bridge to Shaniwarwada has been closed as a precaution, and 1,560 people have been moved to shelters since Tuesday.
Pune Mayor Manjusha Nagpure visited affected areas and said the water release is likely to increase further.
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“People should immediately remove their vehicles from the parking areas and move them to safer locations, as the irrigation department has increased the release of water from the Khadakwasla dam. The water release is likely to increase further as the inflow in the dam is high due to the ongoing rain in the catchment area,” Nagpure said using a public address system.
Pune Mayor Manjusha Nagpure and officials visit flooded areas. (Express Photo/Special Arrangement)
The Khadakwasla dam spillway is part of the Pune civic body’s boundary, and the Mutha cuts across the city. There are four dams upstream of the river: Khadakwasla, Panshet, Varasgaon, and Temghar.
Water released from these dams has to flow through river stretches, putting the city’s low-lying areas at risk.
While the Khadakwasla Dam is full, the Panshet and Varasgaon dams are half-full, and the Temghar dam has 26.50 per cent water.
The civic administration has identified 49 flood-prone locations and is tracking the situation at these locations through ward offices.
Last year, water from the Khadakwasla Dam entered 10 to 15 housing societies in Ektanagari and Nimbaj Nagar and residents had to be evacuated.
Dam water entered Dwarka and Jal Poojan Society in Ektanagari on Sinhagad Road and Krishna Residency in the Bhimnagar area. (Express Photo by Arul Horizon) 
Pune Mayor Manjusha Nagpure and officials visit flooded areas. (Express Photo/Special Arrangement)
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