Pune faces water shortage as Dam levels drop, irrigation dept advices PMC to reduce usage
Pune faces water shortage as Dam levels drop, irrigation dept advices PMC to reduce usage
With summer approaching, the Irrigation Department has urged the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to use water carefully. Water levels in the four dams Khadakwasla, Temghar, Panshet, and Varasgaon are dropping.
Currently, they hold 15.55 TMC of water, which will last only about two and a half months.
However, Pune needs an additional 2.5 TMC to last until the monsoon. If water is not managed well, the city could face a severe water crisis.
An official has advised PMC to reduce water usage by 200 million litres per day (MLD). At present, PMC consumes 1,650 MLD daily. The official further said that though the water level is satisfactory now, precautions must be taken as summer conditions are unpredictable.
Pune’s water demand is increasing rapidly. The Water Resources Department has approved an annual quota of 14.61 TMC, but the city actually uses 21 TMC per year. This means Pune needs around 1.75 TMC per month. With the inclusion of 23 villages into PMC, the city now requires over 2 TMC monthly.
The Khadakwasla Dam also supplies water to Daund municipality and rural villages. Additionally, water is released twice a year for rabi and summer crops, further increasing demand.
Authorities are now urging citizens to use water responsibly to avoid water shortage. If restrictions are not followed, Pune could face a major water crisis in the coming months.
