Pune May Get 7 TMC Water from Mulshi Dam as Demand Crosses 21 TMC

Pune, 22nd March 2026: The Maharashtra government’s positive stance on supplying seven TMC of water from Mulshi Dam has raised hopes of relief for Pune residents, who have been facing growing water demand in recent years. With the city’s expanding limits and rising population, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) now requires around 21.03 TMC of water annually to ensure adequate supply.

At present, the Irrigation Department supplies only 14.61 TMC of water to the city, which is significantly lower than the actual demand. If additional water from Mulshi Dam is approved and supplied, it could help bridge this gap and improve water availability across Pune.
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However, officials said that along with securing additional water, the civic body will also need to develop a comprehensive water distribution network across the entire city, including newly merged villages. This infrastructure development is expected to require an investment of around ₹4,000 to ₹5,000 crore over the next three to four years.

As per the existing water-sharing agreement between the Irrigation Department and PMC, only 11.50 TMC of water is officially sanctioned for the city. In reality, Pune consumes nearly 20 to 21 TMC annually. Based on recommendations from the water regulatory authority, PMC submits its annual water budget every July, estimating demand based on population and per capita supply norms.

To provide 135 litres of water per person per day, the civic body has projected a requirement of 21.03 TMC, considering a population of around 80 lakh, including the floating population. The demand has increased significantly after the inclusion of 32 villages into the city limits in 2017.

At present, water pipelines exist mainly in the old city areas, while newly merged villages still depend on tanker supply due to a lack of infrastructure. These areas alone require an additional 250 to 300 MLD of water daily.

Due to insufficient allocation, PMC lifts around 7 TMC of excess water every year, for which it pays a penalty of ₹70 to ₹75 crore. If the additional water supply from Mulshi Dam is approved, the civic body could save this annual penalty amount.

The proposed move is expected to not only improve water supply but also provide long-term relief to Pune’s growing population and rapid urban expansion.