The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is set to implement precautionary water cuts across the city from June 15, with officials indicating alternate-day supply as the likely measure. This decision comes in view of El Nino's potential impact on monsoon rainfall and slightly lower dam storage, which was expected to last only until August 20.
Mayor Announces Decision After Review
Pune Mayor Manjusha Nagpure announced the decision on Monday after reviewing the city's current water stock and projected demand over the next three months. "We cannot afford to wait for the crisis to deepen," Nagpure said after the review meeting. "The civic administration has two days to come up with a detailed supply timetable," she added.
Current Water Storage Status
As of Monday, the combined water stock in the four dams in the Khadakwasla circle stood at 5 TMC (17% of capacity), slightly lower than last year's storage of 5.5 TMC for the same date. The Bhama Askhed dam, which supplies water to eastern Pune, held 2.3 TMC (30% of its capacity). Officials noted that the city consumes about 1.6 TMC of water each month and will need more than 3 TMC over the next two months.
Proposed Measures and Restrictions
PMC is likely to introduce an alternate-day water supply system, with final details to be announced in the coming days. Restrictions will also be imposed on non-domestic water use, and residents have been urged to use water judiciously. The civic body will launch a water-saving campaign to address the situation.
Reactions from Residents and Activists
The move has drawn sharp reactions from residents and activists. Former corporator Yogesh Sasane expressed doubts about the decision's effectiveness. "Given the existing gaps in PMC's water distribution system, implementing alternate-day supply may not work efficiently. It may result in inadequate water pressure after a daylong shutdown," he said.
Civic activist Vikram Gaikwad criticized both PMC and the irrigation department, calling the situation a collective failure. "Despite dams being full at the end of last year's monsoon, authorities have struggled to ensure adequate supply. There are persistent flaws in the distribution network and the administration has been unable to fully address these issues," he said.
Residents also raised concerns. Subhash Mehta from Koregaon Park said past experiences showed that water supply typically does not return to full capacity within 12 hours after a shutdown. "Pressure is usually restored only the next day. An alternate-day system could disrupt the entire supply cycle, deepening the water crisis," he said.
Irrigation Department Warnings
Irrigation department officials warned that although current water levels were comparable to last year's, the situation could deteriorate due to the expected weak monsoon influenced by El Nino. Unlike the previous year, which saw strong early monsoon rain, forecasts indicated a delayed and weaker start this season.
PMC's Response and Challenges
The irrigation department had advised PMC to reduce water usage last month, but the civic body deferred the decision until early June. Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram acknowledged that some areas were already experiencing reduced supply. "We are working on a plan to ensure equitable water distribution during the cuts, especially since restoring supply after shutdowns takes time," he said. He confirmed that alternate-day supply was under serious consideration, with official guidelines to be announced soon.
Ram also highlighted delays in the equitable water supply project, which aimed at reducing leakage and losses. The project has faced administrative hurdles, including pending approvals from the irrigation department and local police.
