Pune Municipal Corporation Rejects 10% Water Cut Proposal by Irrigation Department
Pune, 19th September 2025: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has turned down the Irrigation Department’s proposal to reduce the city’s water supply by 10 percent, despite repeated reminders and directives from the Maharashtra State Water Resources Regulatory Commission (MWRRC).
As per the MWRRC order, since the PMC has been drawing excess water from the Khadakwasla Dam Chain Project, its water extraction pump house (Jackwell) at Khadakwasla should be handed over to the Irrigation Department to regulate consumption.
However, Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram not only rejected the proposal but also refused to meet the department’s engineer, who had approached the civic body with the demand.
Water Allocation vs. Consumption
For Pune city and its extended limits, 16.36 TMC of water has been officially allocated:
11.6 TMC from the Khadakwasla Project
0.34 TMC from the Pawana River Basin
2.67 TMC from Bhama Askhed Project
1.75 TMC for newly included villages
Taking into account projected population growth, the PMC has approval to use 14.61 TMC of water for a population of 76.16 lakh by 2031. However, actual usage has consistently crossed the sanctioned quota. Records show the city consumed 22.19 TMC in 2021, 22.71 TMC in 2022, 22.77 TMC in 2023, 20.99 TMC in 2024, and 22.1 TMC in 2024-25.
Citing this excessive draw, the MWRRC has warned that control of the Khadakwasla Jackwell should be transferred to the Irrigation Department if the PMC fails to regulate water supply.
Dam Release vs. Water Cut
Ironically, while the city has been witnessing heavy rains, the Irrigation Department has released nearly 25 TMC of water into the Mutha River from the Khadakwasla project. Against this backdrop, the proposal for a 10 percent cut in Pune’s water supply has sparked questions. Critics argue that when reservoirs are full and surplus water is being discharged, there is no justification for reducing supply to citizens.
Meanwhile, the Irrigation Department continues to send reminders to the PMC about compliance, while the civic administration maintains its firm stance against the cut.
