Pune: In a clear indication of diversion of drinking water meant for the city for irrigation purpose, the Khadakwasla Irrigation Division has admitted that the area of cultivation for sugarcane has been increasing in rural parts of Pune district, where water from the Khadakwasla system is released for agriculture purpose through the Mutha right bank canal.

The Water Resources Department last month decided to cut 200 MLD (million litres per day) water from Pune’s quota of 1,350 MLD. Now, the city is getting 1,150 MLD water daily. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been forced to modify the water supply schedule. The city areas are getting water for five hours once a day.
 
The Khadakwasla system comprises the Temghar, Khadakwasla, Panshet and Varasgaon dams. Their total capacity is 29 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic feet). However, due to leakage issues at Temghar, Pune has to rely only on the remaining three dams.
 
According to the Irrigation Department, they provide water for drinking, agriculture and industries. It distributes 29 TMC water for these three purposes. However, civic activists alleged that the rural parts of Pune district are using water from the drinking quota of the PMC. The first water cuts had started in 2009 in the city. 

Now, activists are once again alleging that the drinking water quota is being diverted to agriculture, especially for the sugarcane cultivation. The Khadakwasla division’s statistics clearly show increasing sugarcane cultivation in rural parts of Pune district. According to agriculture experts, it is one of the most water consuming crops.

The issue of increasing sugarcane cultivation was discussed in the canal committee meeting, in which the Water Resource Department decided to reduce the water quota of the PMC. 

Earlier, based on the water availability in dams, the Khadakwasla Division used to instruct farmers on crop cultivation in the district, where dam water was provided for cultivation. 

As per the government cropping pattern norms, only 5 per cent land should be utilised for cash crops such as sugarcane.
 
However, this practice was stopped three years ago. Now, sugarcane cultivation has increased to 40 per cent of total agriculture land in the district. So, the cropping pattern norms are not being followed. 

While speaking to Sakal Times, PB Shelar, Executive Engineer of Khadakwasla division, said, “Last year, there were 62,141 hectares of sugarcane cultivation in Daund and Indapur areas. This year, it has gone up to 1.09 lakh hectares. For the past three years, it is increasing rapidly. We provide four rotations of water supply for cultivation in a year.”
 
Civic activist Vivek Velankar said, “The water released will be used mostly for sugarcane. As per the government cropping pattern norms, only 5 per cent of agriculture land should be utilized for cash crops such as sugarcane.

But right now, around 40 per cent land is being used for cash crops. So, the cropping pattern norms are not being followed. The government should not give water to such wrongly managed crop patterns and provide it for drinking purpose on priority.”