The Shirur water crisis has intensified as six Kolhapur-type weirs on the Ghod river remain without adequate storage, threatening standing crops and drinking-water supplies across parts of Pune district. Local farmers are seeking the immediate release of water from the Ghod dam to fill the structures.
Mauli Katke, the MLA representing the area, wrote to Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil on October 12, requesting that 350 million cubic feet (Mcft) of water be released from the dam. The letter called for urgent directions to the relevant officials to retain the released water in all six downstream weirs.
The demand comes after a weak monsoon spell in Shirur taluka, according to a report by Sakal – Pune. Farmers who planted crops during the monsoon are facing a shortage of water needed to sustain them, with the report stating that several crops are at risk of drying up. The shortage has also affected groundwater sources, with wells and borewells reported to have dried up in multiple villages.
The six Kolhapur-type weirs are located downstream of the Ghod dam. They include structures at Shirsagaon, Pimplesuti, Inamgaon, Gandhale Mala and Tandali, as well as structures serving nearby hamlets and settlements. These weirs are important for agriculture and drinking-water needs in the surrounding villages, but the lack of stored water has worsened the shortage in the area.
The immediate concern for farmers is the loss of crops already planted in the fields. With limited water available for irrigation, households dependent on agriculture face difficulty protecting their crops through the current dry period. The depletion of wells and borewells has created a parallel concern for domestic water access in villages and outlying settlements.
Katke’s request places the decision with the state water resources department and the officials responsible for regulating releases from the Ghod dam. Releasing 350 Mcft would be intended to restore storage in the downstream weirs and support both irrigation and drinking-water requirements in the affected areas.
The report does not state whether the water resources department has approved the requested release or announced a schedule for opening the dam gates. The next step is therefore an official decision on the requested release and directions to the concerned authorities regarding the six river weirs.
