The Koyna dam authorities have proposed reductions in water discharge for irrigation and power generation due to poor storage in dams across the Satara district. This situation has arisen after nearly 18 years. The Koyna dam, with a capacity of 105 TMC, is often referred to as the life-line of Maharashtra. It houses a power plant with a total generation capacity of 1,920MW on its western side. Apart from serving irrigation needs, the dam, situated in the Western Ghats, also caters to the water requirements of residents in Satara, Solapur, and Sangli districts.
According to the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) guidelines, the dam authorities are required to provide a detailed status of the dam storage level and plan for utiliSing available water from November to June, until the next monsoon. Consequently, the authorities have prioritized the supply of drinking water, with a 10% reduction in water for irrigation and 35 TMC allocated for power generation, compared to the annual demand of 67 TMC.
Presently, the dam has 89 TMC of water, of which 84 TMC is live storage. Ashish Jadhav, the sub-divisional engineer of Koyna dam, mentioned, "We have proposed the water utilisation plan. We must ensure sufficient water is available for drinking in April, May, and June. Considering potential delays in the monsoon, we have suggested these water cuts." The region requires around 17 TMC of water in the summer, primarily for drinking purposes. By October 31, the dam is typically filled to capacity, facilitating the irrigation department in providing adequate water to farmers.
