Pune: Task Force Formed To Address Water Wastage, Sewage Issues; Minister Flags 40% Leakage Rate
Pune: Task Force Formed To Address Water Wastage, Sewage Issues; Minister Flags 40% Leakage Rate
Pune | July 29, 2025 — Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil has announced the formation of a joint task force to tackle pressing water and sewage issues in Pune. The decision was made during a high-level review meeting held at the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) headquarters on Sunday.
The newly formed task force will comprise the PMC municipal commissioner and the executive director of the Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation (MKVDC). The group has been assigned the task of recommending urgent measures to curb water leakage, stop untreated sewage discharge, and reduce pollution in the region.
During the meeting, Vikhe Patil raised serious concerns about the PMC drawing more water than its designated quota, which is adversely affecting irrigation in downstream areas like Daund, Indapur, and Purandar. He also noted that Pune’s per capita water consumption is significantly higher than that of other major cities and highlighted a troubling 40% leakage rate in the city’s water distribution system.
“If we identify and plug these leakages, we can redirect adequate water to meet the irrigation needs in rural areas,” the minister said.
He urged the PMC to intensify efforts toward water reuse, particularly for non-potable purposes such as garden maintenance. He also stressed that any water released into rivers must adhere to environmental treatment standards. Furthermore, Vikhe Patil directed the civic body to ensure that at least 80% of the city’s sewage is properly treated before being discharged.
To tackle river pollution, he proposed appointing a third-party agency to survey riverbanks and identify encroachment and pollution hotspots.
Minister of State for Urban Development Madhuri Misal, who was also present at the meeting, emphasized the need for immediate measures to curb water leakages and suggested removing encroachments along canals managed by the irrigation department. She also recommended developing public spaces like cycle tracks along these areas.
PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram assured the ministers that a thorough study of water leakages would soon be undertaken. He shared that 80% of the equitable water distribution project is already complete, with 3 lakh water meters installed and another 5 lakh planned.
With the recent inclusion of merged villages, PMC has become one of Maharashtra’s largest municipal corporations. Ram stated that efforts are underway to plan for the growing water demand. Currently, Pune treats 477 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage. A Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded project, scheduled for completion by March 2026, will add another 396 MLD to the city’s sewage treatment capacity.
The meeting was also attended by MLAs Vijay Shivtare, Bhimrao Tapkir, Siddharth Shirole, and Sunil Kamble. A detailed presentation on water management and sewage treatment was delivered by Additional Commissioner Pradeep Chandra, alongside senior officials from PMC and MKVDC.
