Pune: Water tanker network in the city may soon face a crisis of its own. Private operators, often accused of overcharging, are now grappling with shrinking supplies as several borewells that feed tankers have started drying up months earlier than usual.Sushant Lonkar, a leading tanker operator serving Kondhwa and Mohammadwadi, said groundwater levels have started dropping far earlier than usual. “Traditionally, borewell levels decline around March or April. This year, we’re seeing depletion much sooner. Tanker operators depend on multiple privately owned borewells, many of which are already showing signs of stress. If the trend continues, ensuring adequate water supply to housing societies in the months ahead will become a major challenge,” he told TOI.The operators have also started exploring alternative sources, but sourcing water from distant locations will increase transportation costs. “We will have to deploy additional resources and spend more on diesel if we travel longer distances. While increasing tanker charges is an individual operator’s decision, rates could go up if the situation persists,” Lonkar added.Another operator from Bibvewadi, choosing anonymity, said water availability had already become a concern, though he has not considered increasing charges yet. He said the unusually hot Oct, coupled with forecasts of a warmer winter, has added to their worries. “Nov and Dec are traditionally off-season for tanker operators as demand usually dips. However, water cuts and drought in several parts of Maharashtra could keep demand high this year,” the operator said.Residents of housing societies in Undri and Pisoli, which lack Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) water connections, recently told TOI that their daily tanker requirements were already increasing. With summer next, they fear further shortages and higher charges. A tanker currently costs between Rs700 and Rs800 in these areas. Rates had already been increased earlier this year after police directed operators to install CCTV cameras in their vehicles.A tanker operator with five vehicles in Wagholi said a price hike is inevitable, though not immediate. “We cannot continue absorbing additional costs. One option is for PMC to allow private tankers to draw water from its facilities, as the number of civic tankers is far lower than ours. Residents should also start conserving water,” he said.Sanjiv Patil, president of Wagholi Housing Society Association, said residents were already experiencing reduced supply. “A household that earlier required around two tankers daily is now managing with one or one-and-a-half because operators cannot find enough water. Several operators have warned societies about a possible price hike. We currently pay an average of Rs900 per tanker, but have been told that rates could rise to Rs1,500,” he said.Calls and WhatsApp messages by TOI to PMC water supply head Nandkishor Jagtap seeking comment went unanswered. Residents urged the civic body to announce an emergency plan for areas without municipal water connections. “PMC needs to step in and provide relief to residents. A detailed plan should be announced now rather than waiting for the crisis to worsen. Corporators must also intervene and help residents instead of merely making promises and complaining about lack of funds,” said Arvind Shole, a resident of Undri.
