PONDA: The heavy and incessant rainfall for two consecutive days has resulted in the rejuvenation of rivers and nullahs.
The downpour brought a smile to the faces of officials from the Water Resources Department (WRD) and Public Works Department (PWD) who expressed relief as the water levels in rivers and dams started to rise satisfactorily.
This came as a welcome change after experiencing low rainfall in June and addressing complaints of water scarcity from the locals.
The impact of the heavy rainfall was evident as the Opa-Khandepar tributary of the Mhadei River, which was previously flowing at ground level, surged to a height of one metre near the Khandepar Bridge, observed local resident Sandeep Parkar.
The residents of Panchawadi and Shiroda had been grappling with a water crisis for the past month.
They were supplied water through the Opa Treatment Plant by opening the valve of an old pipeline. However, with the gradual rise in the water level of the Panchawadi Mhaisal Dam, the officials have now shifted to using water from the dam for their 10 MLD (Million Liters per Day) plant.
Consequently, the water supply from the Opa Treatment Plant has been halted. The current water level is reported to be satisfactory, allowing the treatment plant to process three to four MLD of water daily. The storage capacity of the Mhaisal Dam currently stands at 18.88 hectare metres out of its total capacity of 85.88 hectare metres.
Another positive development is the overflow of the Opa reservoir, which has a capacity of up to five metres.
The heavy rainfall in the past two weeks has caused the reservoir to reach its maximum level, according to WRD sources.
The Opa Treatment Plant, situated along the Dudhsagar River, has been receiving sufficient water from various sources, including the Ganjem Bandhara and Salaulim dam, after the heavy rainfall. This water supply is crucial for Tiswadi and Ponda talukas.
