Nagpur Division Has Sufficient Drinking Water Until August End

Nagpur: The Nagpur division is unlikely to face any drinking water shortage in the coming months, with reservoirs holding over 1,700 million cubic metres (MCM) of live storage — 321.55 MCM more than last year. Authorities have assured adequate supplies until at least the end of August, despite uncertainty over monsoon rainfall. On the corresponding date last year, the reservoirs held 1,383.41 MCM, or 29% of capacity.

Review Meeting Highlights

The assessment emerged from a review meeting chaired by the Maharashtra chief secretary on June 15. Officials from the Water Resources Department and Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) said reservoir levels across the region are currently better than those recorded a year ago, providing a buffer against any rainfall deficit. The division's 370 water projects — comprising 12 major, 43 medium and 315 minor dams and barrages — held a combined live storage of 1,704.96 MCM on June 11, equivalent to 36.21% of their total live storage capacity of 4,926.7 MCM.

Nagpur city, which draws its drinking water primarily from the Totladoh and Navegaon Khairy reservoirs, faces no immediate threat of water scarcity, officials said.

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Water Consumption Projections

Officials have projected drinking water consumption of 80.1 MCM and industrial use of 44.62 MCM between June 11 and August 31, while evaporation losses are estimated at 153.56 MCM. Total utilisation during the period is expected to reach 278.28 MCM. Even after these withdrawals, reservoirs across the division are projected to retain 1,426.68 MCM of live storage by September 1.

According to Sonali Chopde, officiating chief engineer of the Water Resources Department, reservoirs across Nagpur, Gondia, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli and Wardha districts currently hold sufficient reserves to meet drinking water requirements.

"There is no concern regarding drinking water supply at present. The actual impact of El Niño on rainfall and reservoir levels can be assessed more accurately only after the monsoon season concludes," Chopde said.

Cautious Approach Adopted

Despite the improved storage position, the government has adopted a cautious approach and has not planned any irrigation releases until August 31. Priority has been accorded to drinking water supply and industrial requirements. Officials said requests for emergency water reservations from various districts are being received and will be examined through the respective district administrations.

The decision to withhold irrigation allocations despite improved storage levels underscores the administration's focus on protecting drinking water reserves while remaining prepared for any weather-related disruptions during the monsoon.