Water levels in large dams of Vidarbha higher than last year

Nagpur: Amid fears of El Nino and ongoing heatwave, water level in large dams of Nagpur and Amravati divisions, which represent East and West Vidarbha, were 41.27% and 41.35% on May 29. This is 10% higher compared to the same period last year in Nagpur, while in Amravati dams are holding 4% more water than last year, shows the data compiled by the state's water resources department (WRD).The level in Totladoh dam, from where Nagpur gets its supply, is 51% which is slightly less than on the same date last year's 54%.The water level in the medium-scale dams of Nagpur division is slightly less this year at 30%, compared to 33% last year. In Amravati division, it is the same at 38%.The small dams in Nagpur are 34% full and in Amravati 41%. Last year, the levels were 38% and 42%, respectively. With this the average level of all the three categories of dams stands at 38% this year, which is 6% more than last year in Nagpur. In Amravati it is 41% compared to 38% last year.The level in all the 3028 large, medium and small dams in entire Maharashtra was almost same on the same date last year. It was 29.06% on Friday and 29.48% last year.WRD classifies the dams according to their capacity as large, medium and small. There are 26 large dams in Nagpur and Amravati division clubbed. The total level of water in these dams stands at 3776 million cubic metres (MCM).Gosikhurd, the biggest project in Vidarbha, has water level of 38.88% against capacity of 1148 MCM. Last year, it had slipped to 17.74% on the same date. Bawanthadi, which had nil water on May 29, 2025, is 15% full. In Amravati, Nalganga dam has 41.27% of water, which is 3% more than last year. Chhatrapati Sambaji Nagar division (formerly Aurangabad), a drought-prone area, has a better position this year with 31% water in its dams as compared to 29% last year.However, the dam level maintained by WRD includes the dead stock. This refers to water stored below the outlet gates of a dam. Sachin Kulkarni, a water conservation activist, said despite the higher levels there are apprehensions of El Nino leaving its impact, especially in Western Vidarbha where better water management through canal and other distribution systems is needed.