Nagpur Water Supply Adequate Until August; Government Maintains Cautious Approach on Irrigation Nagpur division is expected to avoid a drinking water shortage for the foreseeable future, with reservoirs holding over 1,700 million cubic metres (MCM) of live storage—321.55 MCM more than the same period last year. Authorities have assured that water supplies will remain sufficient until at least the end of August, despite uncertainties surrounding monsoon rainfall. This assessment was shared during a review meeting chaired by the Maharashtra chief secretary on June 15, where officials from the Water Resources Department and Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) highlighted that reservoir levels are currently higher than those recorded a year ago, providing a buffer against potential rainfall deficits. The division’s 370 water projects, including 12 major, 43 medium, and 315 minor dams and barrages, collectively held 1,704.96 MCM of live storage on June 11, equivalent to 36.21% of their total capacity of 4,926.7 MCM. Nagpur city, which relies primarily on the Totladoh and Navegaon Khairy reservoirs for drinking water, faces no immediate threat of scarcity. Officials 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 utilization during this period is expected to reach 278.28 MCM, leaving reservoirs with an estimated 1,426.68 MCM of live storage by September 1. Sonali Chopde, officiating chief engineer of the Water Resources Department, confirmed that reservoirs in Nagpur, Gondia, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, and Wardha districts currently hold adequate reserves to meet drinking water needs.#nagpur_division #vidarbha_irrigation_development_corporation #maharashtra_chief_secretary #totladoh_reservoir #navegaon_khairy_reservoir
