Nagpur: Despite monsoon having entered its peak phase, Nagpur’s two key lakes — Gorewada and Ambazari — are yet to overflow this year, an unusual situation for July 23 that reflects the comparatively weak rainfall over the city and its catchment areas.According to Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s water works department, Gorewada Lake’s water level stood at 313.19 metres on Wednesday, nearly 2.5 metres below its overflow level of 315.65 metres at Godbole Gates. The lake, one of Nagpur’s primary drinking water sources, has a live storage capacity of 8.82 million cubic metres (MCM).Ambazari Lake, with a storage capacity of 7.54 MCM, has also not reached its overflow level. Unlike previous years, however, authorities now have greater control over water discharge after the installation of two radial escape gates this monsoon. The gates were erected following the devastating September 23, 2023 flash floods, when unprecedented rainfall caused the lake to overflow, inundating more than two dozen localities downstream. The new gates enable officials to release water in a controlled manner before the lake reaches the danger level, thereby reducing the risk of sudden flooding. The project also included strengthening of the spillway and construction of protective structures around the lake.The delayed filling of both reservoirs contrasts sharply with some previous monsoon seasons.Gorewada last overflowed on July 13, 2022, when torrential overnight rainfall pushed the water level to 315.65 metres, triggering the automatic opening of Godbole Gates and releasing excess water into the swollen Pili River. It overflowed again on September 23, 2023, when cloudburst-like rainfall caused both Gorewada and Ambazari lakes to breach their limits simultaneously, resulting in one of the city’s worst urban floods in recent memory.In contrast, 2021, 2024 and 2025 did not witness Gorewada reaching its full overflow level during the monsoon. While the lake came close to overflow level in July last year, the water remained below the critical mark and no overflow occurred.Water resources officials attribute this year’s slower rise primarily to below-normal rainfall over Nagpur and the reservoirs’ catchment areas, which has limited inflows despite intermittent showers across the city. Unless the region receives sustained heavy rainfall over the coming days, both lakes are likely to remain below their overflow levels, offering relief from flood fears but highlighting the relatively subdued monsoon so far.BOXDAM STORAGE AT 57% DESPITE RECENT RAINS, BELOW LAST YEAR’S LEVELNagpur: Despite steady rainfall over the past week, water storage in Nagpur district’s five major and medium dams remains significantly below last year’s level, raising concerns over irrigation availability for the kharif season. According to water resources department, the reservoirs together held 832.59 million cubic metres (MCM) of water on Thursday (July 23), accounting for 57.42% of their total capacity of 1,449.99 MCM. On the corresponding day last year, storage stood at 930.05 MCM, or 64.14%.The state govt has already directed all departments to strengthen water management measures amid forecasts of nearly 10% below-normal rainfall this monsoon due to the El Nino effect.Officials said there is no immediate threat to drinking water supply for Nagpur city and even requirement of Nagpur city’s water supply demand too has reduced by almost 100 mld. Nagpur Municipal Corporation is currently drawing around 650-660 MLD of water, mainly from Pench system and Navegaon Khairi reservoir, and supplies are expected to remain adequate.However, officials cautioned that if reservoir levels do not improve substantially in the coming weeks, water availability for irrigation during the ongoing kharif season could become a challenge, particularly as storage in some reservoirs remains well below last year’s levels.INFOBOXNagpur District Dam Storage (July 23)Dam—Storage (%)–Last Year (%)Totladoh— 60.72—64.25Navegaon Khairi—74.09—91.08Khindsi— 64.32— 51.47Wadgaon —25.88—56.44Nand —16.49—34.73Total —57.42—64.14
