NASHIK :
The monsoon has become active all over Maharashtra, while Nashik district has also received good rains for the last two days in a row.
The previous week’s Cyclone Nisarga and the subsequent rainfall across the district have so far resulted in 60 per cent of the total average rainfall for the month of June.
The dams in the district have an average 30% water storage and water is being released from five dams at present. While discharge was continued all day long on Sunday from Nandur Madhyameshwar dam.
In Nashik district, the pre-monsoon rains had wrecked havoc in the first week of June due to the Cyclone Nisarga, which followed by heavy damage to crop, livestock and properties. After a week-long hiatus, pre-monsoon rains again arrived in the district on Friday last. The meteorological department has also forecast hailstorm for the next three days.
Therefore, the disaster management system has also become alert. Where drinking water sources are likely to be contaminated by the rain water, alternative arrangements are being made and citizens have been warned of possible damage.
The average rainfall of the district for the month of June is 174.40 mm. At present, from June 1 till now, in 12 days, it has received 60 per cent of the average rainfall of 109.74 mm. Between June 1 and June 12 last year, only 17.91 mm of rainfall was recorded.
Last year, heavy rains were witnessed in July compared to June which had received below average rainfall. This year, however, due to the Cyclone Nisarga, more than 900 mm of rainfall was recorded in a single day.
This year, the monsoon has also arrived on time. While last year during the same period the dams had only 5% water storage, this year, however, the reservoirs have 30 per cent water stock and there are still four months to go for end of monsoon period. Citing the present water stock scenario, the irrigation and water resources department is continuing release of water from Godavari, Darna and Nandurmadhyameshwar dams.
