Pandharpur, Correspondent
With the Ujani dam's water level dropping by as much as four percent in just eight days after having filled to 100 percent this year, concerns over the coming summer have already begun to rise. With the district having received scant rainfall this year, farming and livestock in the region depend heavily on Ujani's water. With barely 15 days left before the monsoon season ends, the rapid decline in the dam's storage suggests this summer could prove a severe test for Ujani's water supply.
The Ujani dam's water level currently stands at 96.48 percent, with a total storage of 115.35 TMC, of which 51.69 TMC is usable storage. Discharge at Daund has remained fully shut for the past eight days, though water continues to be released through the Ujani main canal, the Bhima-Madha connecting canal, the Madha lift irrigation scheme, and the Dahigaon scheme. With the rabi season set to begin from October 15, water will need to be released from Ujani as per farmers' demand for sugarcane, banana, and fodder crops — making careful planning of the dam's available water critically important.
Only 201mm rainfall in four months
The Ujani region typically records between 500 and 600 millimetres of rainfall. This year, however, only 201 millimetres of rain has fallen in the four months since June 1 — compared to as much as 816 millimetres recorded during the same period last year. Good rainfall last year had allowed the rabi season's water rotation from Ujani to be released as early as January; this year, the lack of rain has created a very different situation.
Another test of water after April
Even in years when the Ujani dam fills to 100 percent, it typically approaches dead storage levels by around the end of April. If the monsoon is delayed, May and June bring serious difficulties for drinking water, agriculture, and livestock. With this year's rainfall deficit, the challenge of summer water scarcity is likely to be even more acute — making strict planning of available water essential from now itself.
Save livestock before farming
Given the current situation, farmers need to prioritise fodder crops over large-scale cultivation of other crops using Ujani's water. If a fodder shortage becomes severe during drought due to lack of water, sustaining livestock could become a major crisis for farmers. Careful planning is therefore needed to prioritise fodder crops and save livestock, keeping the available water situation in mind.
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