Nashik residents have been grappling with water shortages even amid the monsoon season. By the end of June, many of the district’s dams were nearly empty due to below-average rainfall. However, July brought some relief with improved rainfall, boosting water levels in most dams to over 50%.
So far this season, Nashik district has recorded 404 mm of rainfall, with Nashik city receiving 327 mm. Early in the monsoon, major cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Ratnagiri, and Nagpur had been awaiting substantial rain, while Nashik district had received only 140 mm by late June, raising serious concerns about water supply.
In response to the water scarcity, the district administration deployed 184 water tankers, which are still operating in seven talukas as of July. Despite the recent uptick in rainfall, Nashik residents are hoping for further significant precipitation. Some dams, including Bavali and Kadava, have overflowed, and water has been released from Darna Dam. However, overall water stock in the district’s dams remains lower compared to last year, with current levels at 51.90% compared to 62.28% at this time last year.
The Gangapur Dam complex has particularly struggled, with water levels dropping from 77.23% (4348 mm) last year to just 3562 mm this year. On July 26, the first water release from the dam was recorded at 539 cusec, highlighting the ongoing need for more substantial rainfall to secure adequate water supply for Nashik.