Good news for Pune city on water front, twice-a-day supply is back

“There is ample water in dams supplying water to the city. The irrigation department started releasing water from the river and the canal. Therefore, it was decided to withdraw complete water cut and resume supply two times a day,” said Pune Mayor Chanchala Kodre.

Though Pavana dam has been full for a month, PCMC was undecided about restoring twice a day water supply despite demands from citizens. PCMC has been supplying three-four hours of water once a day.

Several areas get either one-hour water supply or half-an-hour water due to a massive rise in demand for water with new apartments that recently came up or are coming up.

Municipal Commissioner Rajiv Jadhav said he would soon take a decision.

“But when will he take the decision. His administration is the worse I have seen in last 20 years. The (municipal) commissioner should get up from his air-conditioned office and move around town, then he will realise the plight of citizens,” said activist Shridhar Chalkha.

“Despite the dam being full, Pimpri-Chinchwad residents are suffering,” said Swati Mote from Bhosari.

The Pune mayor said the decision to restore twice-a-day water in Pune city would come into effect from Thursday and continue till October 15, the day the next meeting with irrigation department is scheduled. “Rain is still going on and there is no meaning continuing the cut with water being released in river,” Kodre said.

NCP leader Subhash Jagtap and Congress leader Arvind Shinde said the ruling alliance had been asking the civic administration to withdraw the water cut.

“The water cut had led to other problems. The citizens were storing fresh water and it led to an increase in reports of dengue in parts of the city,” said Shinde.

PMC was forced to introduce 12 per cent water cut with supply once a day from June 28 due to delayed monsoon and it was later increased from July 14 by water supply on alternate days. Last month, it was restored to once a day. Meanwhile, all the four dams that supply water to Pune city are 100 per cent full. While June and July registered a rain deficit, the situation improved in August and September. It was only on September 7, 8 and 10 that all the four dams were 100 per cent full.

“This is the third time in the entire season that the four dams Panshet, Varasgaon, Temghar and Khadakwasla were cent percent full. On Wednesday, even Pavana dam registered cent per cent water,” said irrigation officials. The Met department stated there will be rain in isolated places. One or two spells of rain would occur in isolated areas, IMD said.