Pune: No plans to increase water cuts till June 30, says PMC

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“There is only 2.05 TMC of water in all the four dams put together. The irrigation department has assured water till July 31 taking into consideration the dead stock in the dams while the PMC administration has assured that the water supply will not be affected till July 15 if the present arrangement is followed,” Jagtap said.

After discussions, the mayor said the PMC had decided to continue with the present alternate day water supply arrangement till June 30 and take decisions after reviewing the situation on July 1.

Jagtap said that according to IMD officials, the monsoon was likely to reach Pune in a week. “The monsoon is likely to hit city by June 21. IMD officials say the water level in dams would start increasing only after 20 days from the start of rain as first it will recharge the underground water storage,” he said. “The water scarcity is very serious and we are hoping the rain starts as soon as possible, but the civic administration has been directed to prepare a contingency plan,” Jagtap said.

PMC had started water supply cuts soon after the poor monsoon last year and introduced alternate day water supply in the city.

The civic body also took steps to check unnecessary use of water in swimming pools and vehicle washing centres, but the civic administration failed to follow it up strictly.

PMC officials said the civic administration had assured they would be able to supply water till July 15 if the present arrangement of alternate day water supply was continued. “We are not assuring water supply after July 15 as using the dead stock of dams would be technically difficult,” Jagtap said, adding that the PMC has saved 0.75 TMC water after it started drawing water only through closed pipeline from the Khadakwasla dam.