15% Water Cut Likely In Pune As Authorities Warn Of Poor Monsoon
15% Water Cut Likely In Pune As Authorities Warn Of Poor Monsoon
Pune, April 9, 2026: Residents of Pune have been urged to use water sparingly after the Water Resources Department ordered a 15% reduction in the city’s monthly water consumption, citing concerns over a potentially weak monsoon.
The directive comes in the wake of forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which has warned of below-average rainfall this year due to the impact of El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). These conditions may also delay the onset of the monsoon.
To ensure that water from the Khadakwasla dam system lasts until July 31, authorities have instructed the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to immediately cut down its water withdrawal.
Officials emphasized that early conservation is critical to avoid a severe water crisis later. The department cautioned that if cuts are not implemented now and shortages occur in the future, the responsibility will lie entirely with the municipal body.
Currently, Pune consumes around 1,750 million litres of water per day, equivalent to about 1.83 TMC per month. Under the new directive, the civic body will need to reduce usage by approximately 0.275 TMC monthly.
This reduction is likely to directly impact water supply across the city. Many areas may face once-a-day water supply or reduced water pressure if the cuts are enforced.
At present, the Khadakwasla dam chain holds 13.20 TMC of water, which is about 45.29% of its total capacity. Although this is slightly higher than the 12.04 TMC recorded during the same period last year, authorities are taking precautionary measures due to uncertainty surrounding rainfall.
The move signals a cautious approach by the administration, as Pune braces for a potentially challenging summer with tighter water availability.
