Pune: Close on the heels of initiating water cuts in city areas from Oct 15 onwards, plans are now in the offing to cut short the release of water for rural pockets in the district as well, during the upcoming winter and summer seasons.Irrigation officials on Monday told TOI that there will be no release of water for farming during the upcoming summer, while the ongoing water discharge for winter crops is also set to be reduced.Preliminary discussions on this curtailment of water supply were held at a recent meeting with the district collector. The revised schedules of water release rotations are expected to be out in the next few days.The irrigation department generally releases water from Khadakwasla dam in four rotations — two each in the winter and summer seasons. However, this year, only one full rotation is likely to be held during the winter season. A decision on a second-stage release of water is expected to be taken by Dec.Sources said that the entire timetable of water discharge for crops for the next nine months is undergoing major changes this year owing to scanty rain and a relatively lower stock of water in dams. The water release for winter crops generally begins in Oct after withdrawal of the monsoon, but it was started in Sept. The advancement of water release will have a cascading effect on forthcoming release rotations, sources said.Side by side, pressure is mounting for a “balanced water release” for urban and rural pockets. Corporators from PMC have been pressing for curtailment in supply of water to rural areas with immediate effect, claiming that the city is already facing cuts and that similar steps should be taken in rural parts to tide over the crisis.On Monday, live water storage in four dams of Khadakwasla circle that supply water to the city and rural areas was at 25.18 TMC, almost 3.8 TMC less than last year’s stock. The ongoing release of water for rural areas is expected to continue till Nov. Around 4-5 TMC of water will flow out from Khadakwasla dam during the release.Irrigation department officials have already said they want Pune (PMC) and Pimpri Chinchwad (PCMC) municipal corporations to use water judiciously and introduce more stringent cuts.The district collector last week asked the irrigation department and PMC to give topmost priority to meeting the drinking water needs of people from cities and rural towns.Canal committee meeting key for water release plansThe Khadakwasla canal committee meeting to be chaired by district guardian minister Sunetra Pawar holds the key to deciding water release plans for the city and rural parts. The meeting is expected in the next two weeks after the withdrawal of the code of conduct, effective at present in districts for the polls for teachers’ and graduates’ constituencies.All stakeholders, including PMC, PCMC and the irrigation department, are expecting a detailed discussion on water cuts at the meeting. PMC sources said that though water cuts are already in force, the civic body will put forth its demands at the canal committee meeting.
