PUNE: The State Water Resource Department has decided to cut 200 MLD (million litres per day) water per day from the supply to Pune city. The decision was taken at the Thursday canal meeting in Mumbai under chairmanship of Pune District Guardian Minister Girish Bapat due to water scarcity in rural parts of Pune district due to insufficient rain.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) administration and Mayor Mukta Tilak announced a water supply timetable of the city considering the water cut next week. However, there is confusion over the water cut in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership. Pune city gets water from four dams Panshet, Varasgaon, Temghar and Khadakwasla through right bank canal and a closed pipeline.
The canal meeting took place in Mumbai. Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan, District Guardian Minister Girish Bapat, Pune Municipal Corporation Commissioner Saurabh Rao, water supply officials, Khadakwasla Irrigation Division officials and legislators were present.
Speaking to the media after the canal meeting, Bapat said, “There is a drought-like situation in some parts of Pune district due to lack of rainfall. We are trying to keep the dam water for drinking and agriculture purposes. So we have decided to make better management of Pune city water supply by taking some steps. But it will not affect water supply of the city. We will provide adequate water to Puneites.”
Mayor Tilak said, “During the canal meeting in Mumbai, the decision was taken to reduce 15 per cent water from Khadakwasla division to Pune city.
Therefore, we have to cut down water supply of Pune city. After discussing with the municipal commissioner, the administration will make schedule of water supply and declare the water cut. Right now, there is no water cut.”
VG Kulkarni, Chief Superintendent of Water Supply Department of PMC admitted a water cut in coming days in Pune. He said, “The PMC is receiving daily 1,350 MLD water from Khadakwasla division. Now we will receive 1,150 MLD water. It will affect our daily water supply. We will make a timetable of water supply and implement from next week. After the water cut, the city will receive water once a day. Some rural parts of Pune district are suffering from insufficient rain.”
Chetan Tupe, leader of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) criticised the water cut decision. He said, “Right now, most of the parts of the city don’t get adequate drinking water and now Water Resource Minister Girish Mahajan took the decision to cut Pune city water despite sufficient water in dams. It is not a good decision. BJP corporators are complaining about insufficient water supply in their wards and the minister took decision of reducing water supply to Pune city. On this background, how can the PMC 24x7 water supply scheme be implemented in the city?,” he asked.
The city faced a water cut in the summer in 2009 and 2010. The city witnessed water cut from 20 per cent which went up to 50 per cent in 2009 as it was declared a drought year. In 2010, due to lack of water availability, the city again faced 10 to 15 per cent cuts in summer. There was also water cut in 2014 due to inadequate water in reservoirs.
