Pune Mayor To Hold Talks WIth Collector On Water Scarcity And Private Tanker Pricing
Pune Mayor To Hold Talks WIth Collector On Water Scarcity And Private Tanker Pricing
Pune, June 20, 2026: With water levels in the Khadakwasla dam project significantly lower than last year, concerns over Pune’s water supply are intensifying. Pune Mayor Manjusha Nagpure has said that the civic administration will discuss the issue with the District Collector, seeking measures to regulate private tanker rates and ensure equitable distribution of available water resources.
According to civic officials, the Khadakwasla dam project currently holds only 4 TMC of water, compared to 7 TMC during the same period last year. The declining storage has increased pressure on the city’s water supply system and led to a growing dependence on water tankers.
Mayor Nagpure said residents have reported a sharp rise in private tanker charges during the ongoing shortage. “There are complaints that tanker operators have increased rates, leading to financial burden on citizens. We will discuss the matter with the District Collector and explore measures to regulate tanker operations and pricing,” she said.
Following recent water supply cuts, complaints from citizens have increased substantially. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has received around 437 complaints related to water shortages so far.
Demand for water tankers has also risen sharply. On June 15, PMC-operated tankers made 1,450 trips across the city. Within four days, the number increased to 1,665 trips, reflecting an additional demand of 215 tanker trips.
The Mayor noted that while no official complaints regarding excessive tanker charges have been received, some increase in rates may be expected due to the longer distances required to source water. However, she emphasized that steep hikes of two to three times the normal rates are unacceptable. She suggested that a meeting involving tanker operators, government officials, and other stakeholders may be necessary to formulate a policy on tanker pricing and water allocation.
Meanwhile, the decision on whether water should be released from reservoirs for agricultural purposes will be taken by the Irrigation Department. PMC officials said planning is underway to ensure adequate drinking water supply for Pune residents while coordinating with state authorities.
In a related development, a four-day hunger strike against the water cuts was staged outside PMC headquarters by Tausif Sheikh, Maharashtra President of Aliraza Young Circle. The protest demanded diversion of water being used for construction activities towards residential consumption and action against alleged tanker mafias.
Sheikh said he suspended the agitation on June 19 after receiving assurances from Pune City Congress President Prashant Jagtap, who pledged to raise the issue in the municipal council and seek a rollback of the water cuts.
