Pune to Face Water Restrictions: Alternate-Day Supply, Pools Closed, Vehicle Washing Banned
Pune, June 14 ( Staff Reporter): Starting Monday, Pune residents will receive municipal water supply only on alternate days, as the city moves to conserve dwindling reservoir stocks amid fears of a delayed and below-normal monsoon.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) took the decision after the Maharashtra Water Resources Department asked it to cut consumption and preserve existing reserves until the end of August. The city draws most of its water from the Khadakwasla, Panshet, Varasgaon and Temghar dams, with smaller contributions from Bhama Askhed and Pawna all of which are currently running low.
Mayor Manjusha Nagpure appealed to citizens to use water carefully, warning that a severe crisis could follow if current stocks aren’t managed wisely. As part of the new restrictions, all swimming pools and vehicle washing centres will shut down, and construction sites have been barred from using PMC-supplied drinking water.
Civic officials said the four major dams together hold around 5 TMC of water, but only about 3 TMC of that is usable for Pune’s supply. To make the reserves last, the PMC plans to cut daily supply by nearly 400 million litres — down from the current 1,550 MLD.
Areas dependent on the Bhama Askhed dam will be spared the immediate cuts, since residents there already cope with poor-quality, muddy water.
Recalling the prolonged 2013-14 water crisis, when cuts lasted nearly a year, Nagpure said the city is acting early this time to avoid a repeat. She also urged private tanker operators not to hike rates during the shortage.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast seasonal rainfall at 90-95% of normal possibly lower citing the potential influence of El Niño.
Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram said drinking water must not be used for construction, urging builders to switch to treated sewage water, borewells or wells instead. Housing societies have been told to keep their sewage treatment plants running and maximise recycled water use, while hotels, restaurants and hostels have been asked to conserve water and reuse greywater for gardening and similar purposes.
The PMC said the alternate-day schedule will be rolled out gradually across different areas to avoid pipeline bursts and other technical disruptions.
