Pune Water Crisis Raised In Winter Assembly Session; State Considers Penalty For Untreated Wastewater
Pune Water Crisis Raised In Winter Assembly Session; State Considers Penalty For Untreated Wastewater
Pune, December 10, 2025: The issue of Pune city’s water supply dominated discussions in the Maharashtra Legislature’s Winter Session, with Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil assuring the House that the department is undertaking planned measures to ensure smooth and adequate water supply to the rapidly growing city.
The minister was responding to a calling attention motion moved by Legislative Council member Yogesh Tilekar regarding Pune Municipal Corporation’s ongoing water challenges. Vikhe-Patil said Pune, being a historic and fast-developing urban centre, requires robust planning, and the Water Resources Department is actively working to meet the city’s rising water demands.
Vikhe-Patil informed the House that Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) currently uses 22 TMC of water annually, generating large volumes of wastewater in the process. The state plans to increase the capacity of sewage treatment projects in the coming years. He emphasized that water allocation for Pune is being decided while maintaining a balance with rural drinking water schemes.
The minister also revealed that the government is considering a proposal to impose double water charges (2.0x) on domestic and industrial establishments that fail to treat their wastewater. Companies that waste water or neglect essential water-saving measures will face legal action under existing regulations.
Highlighting financial constraints, Vikhe-Patil said PMC has pending dues of around ₹800 crore, which hampers dam repairs and maintenance. Similar situations exist in several major cities, including Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nashik.
Providing an update on future water supply improvements, the minister stated that work on a new tunnel project for Pune is underway and is expected to be completed within two years. Once operational, the project will significantly increase the city’s water availability. The final water reservation for PMC will be determined after reviewing existing resources, project capacity, future needs, and the potential use of recycled wastewater, he added.
