Pune: Bhatghar Dam Reaches 98% Capacity; Automatic Gates Tested with 18,500 Cusecs Discharge
Bhor, 2nd August 2024: As the British-era Bhatghar Dam in Bhor taluka has reached 98% of its water storage capacity, the Water Resources Department tested the 45 automatic gates of the dam. Under the guidance of Digambar Dubal, Executive Engineer of the Pune Irrigation Department, the automatic gates were activated at 10:45 AM on Friday (August 2) with a siren. Within minutes, all 45 automatic gates were opened, and the water discharge began at 18,500 cusecs.
The Bhatghar Dam has a total of 81 gates, of which 45 are automatic. These gates open automatically when the dam reaches 100% capacity and close when the water level decreases. Two days prior, the power generation station on the dam was started, releasing 1,750 cusecs of water into the Nira River. After testing, the gates were closed again after 15 minutes.
Before testing the automatic gates, Digambar Dubal conducted a ceremonial worship of the dam’s water. Yogesh Bhandalkar, Deputy Engineer of the Neera Irrigation Department, along with Ganesh Tengle and Nana Kamble, Branch Engineer of Bhatghar, were present for the occasion.
The Bhatghar Dam, with a total capacity of 23.74 TMC, reached 98.93% of its storage capacity by 1 PM today. Additionally, 3,403 cusecs of water were being released from the Nira-Deoghar Dam Power Station and the spillway in the Bhor Taluka.
Due to the substantial release of water from both dams, the administration has issued alert warnings to villages along the Nira River. Shirgaon in the Nira-Deoghar Dam basin has recorded a maximum rainfall of 3,406 mm, Bhutonde in the Bhatghar Dam basin has seen 3,324 mm, and Pangari has experienced 2,948 mm of rain this year.
Last year, the Bhatghar Dam reached full capacity on 20th September. However, due to higher rainfall this year, the dam is at 99% capacity as of today. The dam’s early filling, 50 days ahead of last year’s schedule, is expected to solve the summer water shortage problem for residents.
