Drought Threat in Pune: PMC May Plan 10% Water Cut, Weekly Shutdown To Conserve Stocks Till July 2027
Pune, 3rd October 2026: With the state government preparing for possible water scarcity triggered by an El Niño effect, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has begun planning a 10% water cut and, if required, a complete shutdown of water supply across the city once a week.
The state cabinet sub-committee on water resources has discussed reserving available dam water stocks until July 2027, including a proposed 10% reduction in water supply in urban and rural areas.
PMC’s water supply department is preparing a similar plan, keeping in mind the need to conserve water for the summer months. The civic body had adopted a weekly water shutdown during the 2020-21 water crisis as well.
Despite below-normal rainfall in parts of Maharashtra, the Khadakwasla dam chain supplying Pune received good rainfall this year. The Khadakwasla, Panshet, Varasgaon and Temghar dams are currently nearly full.
Officials said the combined storage is around 1 TMC lower than last year but can meet Pune’s requirements until the end of July if water is planned and conserved from now.
Last year, despite the dams being full, inadequate water planning resulted in alternate-day water cuts in Pune during the summer. The PMC now plans to begin conservation measures early to avoid a similar situation.
Water supply department head Nandkishor Jagtap said PMC was discussing water management with the state water resources department and was prepared to implement a 10% cut if directed. He said a weekly one-day shutdown, if introduced from now, could help the civic body save around 14% of its annual water allocation, easing pressure during summer.
