Monsoon in,water cut not out,at least for now

Despite the onset of monsoon,the 20 per cent water cut for the city announced by the irrigation department will continue for some more time.

The three dams that supply water to the city had 2.02 TMC of water last year. This year,it is almost 50 per cent less at 1.02 TMC. Irrigation officials say the water cut will continue till the dams have sufficient water. “After the rains,it takes five days for the water to reach the dams. The catchment areas should receive at least 300 mm of rainfall before the waters start reaching the dams,” said Khadakwasla irrigation circle executive engineer,Vijay Ghogare.

“So far,the catchment areas have received only 30 mm rainfall. This time in 2008,the catchments areas had recorded 331 mm rainfall since June 1,” said Ghogare.

The city saw an extraordinary delay in the onset of rains,which led to a delay in the commencement of agricultural activities as well.

This was because of cyclone Aila in the east that diverted the monsoon currents. “Now there is moisture coming in from the Arabian Sea. So we can predict good rains at least till the end of June,” said A B Mazumdar,deputy director general,IMD.

The forecast for the next 48 hours is “a few spells of rain and thundershowers”.

Mazumdar also said that rainfall deficiency would reduce in peninsular India over Andaman Nicobar,Lakshwadeep,Kerala,Tamil Nadu,Andhra Pradesh,Maharashtra,Goa,and parts of Orissa,Chhattisgarh,and Karnataka in the next few days.

Meanwhile,agriculture officers in the district are optimistic. Pune district superintending agriculture officer Ravindra Bhosale said that if it rains for 4-5 days,then sowing operations would commence.