Wait for 12 TMC water,say officials

Unless the dams have 12 TMC water the water cut should continue is the suggestion put up by the irrigation department. Even as Saturday’s drizzle saw the live storage increase to just 1.2 TMC,there is a long way to go,said senior irrigation officers. “The water cut should continue so that Pune city will not face water shortage. With just a month to go,we have to use water sparingly and water cuts will only ensure this,’’ said a senior irrigation officer. Even as IMD has forecast heavy rainfall in the state,we have to adopt a wait and watch policy,said the officer.

On Friday,the total average water level in the four dams — Khadakwasla,Temghar,Varasgaon and Panshet — was 1.06 TMC and it increased to 1.2 TMC on Saturday. The water level needs to be at least 15 TMC to ensure adequate water supply to the city. At present,Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad areas are experiencing a water cut of 40 per cent and 20 per cent respectively.

Last year,when they had introduced a 20 per cent water cut at around the same time,they had a live water storage of 7 TMC.