In a rare and unprecedented event, Jayakwadi Dam has received 40 Dalghamis of water in the month of May, marking the first such occurrence in over 50 years. This unexpected inflow, caused by unseasonal rainfall in the Kopargaon and Vaijapur regions, has significantly bolstered water reserves, bringing relief to the drought-prone Marathwada region.
As a direct result of the inflow, the planned water release cycle scheduled till June 30 has been cancelled, leading to an estimated savings of 6 TMC of water. The current water storage in the dam stands at 1381 Dalghamis, which translates to approximately 29.66 percent of its total capacity.
Of the available reserves, around 37 TMC of water was earlier distributed to Aurangabad, Jalna, Beed, and Parbhani districts to meet Rabi crop irrigation and summer drinking water demands. However, 10.5 TMC of water has been lost due to evaporation during the hot summer months.
Traditionally, Jayakwadi Dam does not receive significant inflow before the monsoon. But this year’s unseasonal rains have resulted in 1.5 TMC of water entering the reservoir before the last week of May, pushing the total pre-monsoon inflow to 40 Dalghamis.
According to Superintending Engineer S. Sabbinwar, the ongoing water discharge from the left bank canal, which was being carried out at a rate of 1800 cusecs, was gradually reduced and completely stopped by Monday evening. This decision has not only conserved precious water but also provided a much-needed buffer against water scarcity in the region.
Experts and local farmers alike have welcomed this development, as the increased reserves are expected to significantly ease pressure on water management in the coming months.