Nagpur's Totladoh Reservoir Loses 65.63 MCM in 10 Days

The Totladoh reservoir, a crucial water source for Nagpur, has experienced a dramatic loss of 65.63 million cubic metres (MCM) of live storage over the past ten days. According to data from the Water Resources Department (WRD), the reservoir's live storage decreased from 520.55 MCM on October 5 to 454.92 MCM by October 15. This alarming trend raises concerns about water availability as the city heads into the summer of 2027.

The average daily depletion rate from the reservoir has been calculated at approximately 6.56 MCM. During the same period, the live storage percentage of Totladoh fell from 51.19% to 44.73% of its total designed capacity of 1,016.93 MCM. In stark contrast, the reservoir held nearly full capacity at 99.68% on October 15 of the previous year, underscoring a significant year-on-year decline in water levels.

Currently, Nagpur receives around 740 million litres per day (MLD) of treated water, with 520 MLD sourced from the Totladoh reservoir through the Pench system. An additional 220 MLD is drawn from the Kanhan river. A senior WRD official noted that besides the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), there are 15 other government agencies, including power stations and local councils, that also withdraw water from Totladoh, further straining the reservoir's resources.

Compounding the issue, the Kamthi Khairy reservoir has also seen a drop in live storage, decreasing from 112.14 MCM on October 5 to 101.06 MCM by October 15, a reduction of 11.08 MCM. This reservoir's storage has similarly declined from 78.98% to 71.18% of its designed capacity. Other reservoirs in the Nagpur region, such as Khindsi, Nand, and Wadgaon, have also reported significant reductions in their live storage levels during the same timeframe.

Despite the state reserving water for drinking purposes until August 2027, the current trends in storage depletion raise serious concerns about Nagpur's water security as summer approaches. If the depletion continues at the current rate, Totladoh's live storage could last approximately 69 days, while Kamthi Khairy's could last around 91 days. However, these projections depend on various factors, including planned water releases and irrigation needs. With Totladoh supplying about 70% of Nagpur's daily water requirement, managing the available water stocks will be critical until the reservoirs can be replenished by the next monsoon.