Pune Sees Unexpected Surge In Water Tanker Demand During Monsoon
Pune Sees Unexpected Surge In Water Tanker Demand During Monsoon
Defying conventional wisdom, the demand for water tankers in Pune’s 34 merged villages has increased during the monsoon season, surpassing summer numbers. According to Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) data, 124,624 water tanker trips were made between June and August, eclipsing the 123,091 trips recorded from March to May.
The data reveals a steady rise in water tanker trips: 38,299 in March, 41,603 in April, 43,189 in May, 40,732 in June, 42,220 in July, and 41,672 in August. PMC officials attribute this surge to newly developed residential projects, which have strained the existing water supply system.
Nandkishor Jagtap, PMC’s water supply chief, noted, “The demand for water tankers is exceptionally high, and we’re ensuring supply to avoid inconvenience.” The civic body typically requires 33,000-34,000 water tanker trips per month but has seen numbers reach 42,000-43,000.
Critics argue that PMC’s failure to provide adequate water supply has created a lucrative market for private water tankers. Jaymala Dhankikar, director of NIBM Annexe Forum, stated, “The rise in demand is due to PMC’s two-decade failure to provide water to residential societies. This has led to a strong water supply lobby earning crores.”
Despite full dams and 28 TMC water released into the Mutha canal over the past two months, water tanker demand remains high. Dhankikar demanded prosecution of PMC officials for allegedly supporting private interests and disrupting public water infrastructure.
- – 124,624 water tanker trips (June-August)
- – 123,091 water tanker trips (March-May)
- – 33,000-34,000: typical monthly water tanker trips required by PMC
- – 42,000-43,000: current monthly water tanker trips
