Maharashtra Reservoirs Only 30.88% Full

Maharashtra's reservoirs were 30.88% full on May 23, 2026, according to the state's latest dam storage report. The update covered 3,028 large, medium and minor dams across six revenue divisions. Pune division had the weakest position, with storage at 22.10% of live capacity, the lowest among the regions listed in the report. The figures come days before the southwest monsoon typically begins to reshape water availability across the state. The statewide report showed 12,612.59 million cubic meters of live storage against gross live capacity of 40,847.9 million cubic meters. A year earlier, on May 23, 2025, the comparable statewide figure was 27.85%, the same report showed. That means Maharashtra entered the closing stretch before the monsoon with somewhat higher storage than a year ago, even as conditions varied sharply by region. ### Why is Pune drawing the most attention in this update? Pune division's 22.10% storage level was the lowest among Maharashtra's six revenue divisions in the May 23 report. The division accounts for 724 dams, more than any other region in the statewide table, and its live storage stood at 3,371.70 million cubic meters. The next-lowest regional figure was Nashik at 31.23%, well above Pune's level. (mwrdpravah.in) Lokmat, citing water resources analyst and irrigation expert Harishchandra Chakor, said Pune division had 119.071 TMC of usable storage left as of May 23. The report also said the Khadakwasla dam system, important for Pune city, held about 24.85 TMC, or 4.26% more usable water than at the same point last year. (mwrdpravah.in) ### How do the other divisions compare? Amravati division led the state at 42.57% of live storage on May 23, according to the Maharashtra Water Resources Department table. Nagpur followed at 39.89%, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar was at 34.34%, Kokan at 35.76%, and Nashik at 31.23%. The spread points to uneven pre-monsoon conditions rather than a single statewide pattern. (lokmat.com) The statewide table listed 276 dams in Amravati, 387 in Nagpur, 929 in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, 539 in Nashik, 724 in Pune and 173 in Kokan. The same report showed Maharashtra's total live storage at 12,612.59 million cubic meters, with Pune holding 3,371.70 million cubic meters and Amravati 1,671.50 million cubic meters. ### Which big dams stand out in the latest numbers? (mwrdpravah.in) Lokmat's May 23 report highlighted three major dams with closely watched storage levels: Ujani, Koyna and Jayakwadi. Ujani was listed at minus 9.20 TMC, or minus 17.17%, Koyna at 13.69 TMC or 13.59%, and Jayakwadi at 29.193 TMC or 38.08%. (mwrdpravah.in) Nashik city's supply reservoirs also showed mixed levels. Lokmat reported Gangapur at 2.282 TMC, or 40.53%, Darna at 1.391 TMC, or 19.46%, and Kadwa at 0.399 TMC, or 23.64%. Those reservoir-specific figures help explain why regional averages can mask sharp differences between urban supply systems and larger basin storage. (lokmat.com) ### Is the state better off than it was a year ago? The May 23, 2026 statewide figure of 30.88% was above the 27.85% recorded on the same date in 2025, according to the state report. Lokmat said that amounted to roughly 43.705 TMC more usable water than a year earlier. Pune division also improved from 20.81% a year ago to 22.10% this year, though it still ranked last among divisions. (lokmat.com) The improvement does not remove the gap between regions. The same state table showed Amravati at 42.57% and Nagpur at 39.89%, leaving a difference of more than 20 percentage points between the strongest and weakest divisions at the same pre-monsoon stage. ### Where will readers be able to track the next changes? The Maharashtra Water Resources Department's daily storage tables are published through the state's dam data and reservoir monitoring systems. (mwrdpravah.in) The May 23, 2026 report already sets the pre-monsoon baseline: 30.88% statewide, 22.10% in Pune and 42.57% in Amravati. The next updates will show whether early monsoon inflows begin lifting storage in Pune, Nashik and the state's major urban supply reservoirs.