Pune: District collector Jitendra Dudi on Thursday directed Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporations to prepare plans for 20% water cuts to ensure supplies last till Aug 31, 2027. While PMC has begun a once-a-week water cut, PCMC has announced a 10% reduction in supply, which comes over and above the alternate-day distribution.The directive came during a joint review meeting with irrigation department officials and civic authorities. Irrigation officials, citing declining reservoir levels, pushed for even steeper restrictions, recommending a 25% cut and alternate-day water supply in Pune.PMC commissioner Naval Kishore Ram said the civic body would spend the next eight days assessing the impact of the existing 10% cut, available water stock, projected demand and distribution efficiency before deciding on additional curbs. “There is no immediate proposal to deepen water cuts,” PMC standing committee chairman Shrinath Bhimale said, adding that a final decision would be taken only after consultations and a detailed review of the city’s water requirements.In PCMC, where alternate-day water supply for three to three-and-a-half hours has been in place since 2019, authorities will reduce supply duration by 20-25 minutes. Officials said the impact would become noticeable across the city over the next two weeks. “PCMC will also launch a crackdown on water misuse. Housing societies, commercial establishments and construction sites have been warned against using potable water for non-essential purposes. Ward-level inspection teams will monitor violations,” an official said.Housing societies have been directed to use treated water from sewage treatment plants (STPs) and greywater systems for gardening and landscaping. Societies found keeping STPs non-functional could face permanent water disconnection.PCMC commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi said housing societies that adopt water conservation practices will be recognised, while violators will face action. “Every drop saved today will help secure water availability tomorrow and next year. Residents should use only as much water as necessary, avoid wastage and cooperate with the civic body’s conservation efforts,” he said.PCMC officials also warned of strict action against unauthorised use of drinking water at vehicle service centres, illegal tanker operators and residents using potable water for washing vehicles, terraces or courtyards. New housing projects will receive only limited-capacity drinking water connections, while electric pumps attached to municipal supply lines will be seized.Builders and commercial establishments have been asked to arrange alternative water sources and use treated water from municipal STPs for construction activities.The officials cautioned that the water situation could worsen by March-April next year, though PCMC expects relief from an additional 167 MLD of water from Bhama Askhed dam through a dedicated pipeline currently under construction and expected to be completed before March.The push for tighter restrictions comes amid shrinking reserves in the Khadakwasla reservoir system. Irrigation officials said the four dams in the Khadakwasla circle currently hold about 20 TMC of usable water after accounting for dead storage, evaporation and buffer requirements. Pavana dam is currently at 96.9% capacity (8.25 TMC), while Andra dam holds 95.54% (2.79 TMC).Agriculture department officials said available water stock is nearly 25% lower than last year, largely due to the absence of significant rainfall during the monsoon withdrawal period, which traditionally boosts reservoir levels. They reiterated the need for stronger conservation measures, including a 25% supply cut and alternate-day distribution.Meanwhile, PMC corporators have objected to continued water releases from Khadakwasla for rural areas, arguing that if urban consumers face deeper cuts, similar restrictions should apply elsewhere. Irrigation department sources, however, indicated that while releases for winter crops would continue for a few more days, no summer water releases are likely because of low storage levels.
