Pune: The collective stock of water in the four dams around the city, which had dropped to as low as 9.47%, climbed above the 10% mark on Tuesday evening, following two days of good rain .The water stock recorded on Tuesday evening was 2.96 TMC (10.15%). State irrigation department officials said the storage was expected to increase further as rainfall in the catchment areas had continued all through the day on Tuesday. Till evening, the catchment area of Temghar dam had recorded 48mm rain, while the catchment areas of Panshet and Varasgaon dams registered 20mm and 21mm rainfall respectively, officials said.This is for the first time this monsoon that water levels have registered a rise. Though the rise is marginal, the irrigation department said more rain is expected in the next few days which could lift up levels further. The Varasgaon and Temghar dams are still to reach requisite water storage levels.Water release for agriculture purpose from these dams has been stopped. The remaining stock in the dams is being maintained to meet the drinking water needs of the city. An official from the irrigation department said water release to the city has not been curtailed. The city has been lifting about 1.3-1.4 TMC water every month. "We are closely watching water levels and the rainfall activity in the catchment areas. No harsher steps will be required to be taken if the catchment areas continue to receive good spells of rain at regular intervals," an official said.Since June 1, the Temghar dam catchment area has recorded over 350mm rain, while the Panshet and Varasgaon dams each have registered 250mm rain. Mulshi recorded about 69mm rain, while Pavana and Vadiwale dams got 34mm and 64mm rainfall respectively.

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