As pre-monsoon showers sweep through Pune district, the catchment areas of the city’s four major dams Khadakwasla, Panshet, Varasgaon, and Temghar have received substantial rainfall over the past week. However, officials report that while these rains have brought relief and optimism for the upcoming monsoon, they have not yet resulted in a significant increase in dam water levels.
All four dams supplying water to Pune have seen encouraging rainfall totals:
Khadakwasla: Around 200 mm of rainfall since the start of the week, with 15–16 mm recorded on Saturday.
Temghar: Over 150 mm in the past seven days, with a daily high of 23 mm recently.
Panshet and Varasgaon: Both have received over 100 mm of rain each, with Panshet recording 15 mm and Varasgaon 12 mm on Saturday.
Other dams in the region, such as Nira Devghar (89 mm), Veer (27 mm), Ujani (44 mm), Nazare (38 mm), and Bhatghar (15 mm), have also benefited from the recent showers.
Officials from the state irrigation department assure that Pune is unlikely to face water cuts this summer, thanks to adequate dam storage and reduced water discharge for rural crops due to widespread rainfall. The water released from Khadakwasla for irrigation has already been reduced, with plans to halt it completely to prioritize drinking water needs.
With overcast conditions and continued pre-monsoon activity, authorities expect water levels to rise further once the monsoon sets in fully. Rainwater is already flowing into the reservoirs from uphill and ghat sections, and consistent rainfall will be crucial for replenishing storage.
The irrigation department is closely monitoring the situation and urges residents to use water judiciously until the monsoon is well established.