Nagpur: The brimming Gosikhurd Dam offers a glimmer of hope for Nagpur as water levels at Totladoh, a key source of the city’s water supply, continue to dwindle. However, tapping Gosikhurd’s reserves would require substantial infrastructure and fresh clearances.According to the Water Resources Department’s Oct 14 update, Gosikhurd has reached 100% of its designed live storage capacity of 740.17 million cubic metres (Mcum), compared with 78.21% on the corresponding date last year. Totladoh, by contrast, holds just 461.61 Mcum, or 45.39% of its designed live capacity of 1,016.93 Mcum, against 99.84% last year.Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) currently draws water from Totladoh and Kamthi Khairy. The latter held 101.99 Mcum, or 71.83% of its designed live storage, on Oct 14. The sharp year-on-year decline at Totladoh has renewed focus on Nagpur’s dependence on the Pench-based supply system and the potential of Gosikhurd as an alternative source.Mayor Neeta Thakre recently told TOI that NMC was exploring the revival of its proposal to bring water from Gosikhurd to Nagpur through a pipeline. She said a proposal would be submitted to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule.Thakre also convened a review meeting on Saturday to assess the city’s water position and determine how long existing reservoir stocks could sustain supplies at current consumption levels. She stressed the need to assess available stocks, conserve water and discourage the use of treated drinking water for activities such as vehicle washing.A pipeline already connects Gosikhurd to Mouda, and the proposal envisages extending the network towards Nagpur. Estimated earlier at around ₹500 crore, the project would need a fresh feasibility assessment covering the pipeline, pumping infrastructure and integration with the city’s existing water-supply network. Funding and the necessary technical clearances would also have to be secured.For now, NMC’s immediate priority is to conserve available water stocks while evaluating the feasibility of developing Gosikhurd as a second source to strengthen Nagpur’s long-term water security.
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