PMC refuses to share water with Daund and Indapur

Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has refused to share its quota of water to meet additional demand made by Daund and Indapur talukas.
The decision was supported by all political parties in a meeting held on Thursday. "The villagers have a right on 0.5 TMC water. More than that will not be given to them from the PMC's share," said mayor Prashant Jagtap after the meeting.
Earlier, MLAs from Daund and Indapur had made the demand for water from PMC's quota, arguing that their areas are reeling under a severe crisis and need more water.Pune corporators, however, questioned their motive and said the extra water will be used for sugarcane cultivation. Around 1.6 TMC water is needed for villages including the Janai-Shirsai water supply scheme.
"The all-party committee is of the opinion that if more water is given to villages, it will adversely impact the city's water supply plan, which has been laid till July end. The city is already making efforts to control water use and alternate day supply has been in force since September 2015. Nearly 35% less water is consumed in the city, but the villages have got their complete share of water," said the mayor.
"More water cuts would mean injustice to the people of Pune," added the mayor.
Activists, a group of elected members and civic officials have already expressed their reservations on giving more water to villages. They think the extra water will be used for non-drinking purposes such as agriculture.
Civic officials argue that the PMC had helped the villages by providing water in February. It should have lasted for 90 days. However, with the demand rising, it seems the water lasted only for 70 days.