Pune: Severe Water Shortages In Wakad, Thergaon, And Other Suburbs Of Pimpri Chinchwad
Varad Bhatkhande
Pimpri Chinchwad, 6th April 2024: The burgeoning suburbs of Pimpri Chinchwad, including Wakad, Thergaon, Tathawade, Punawale, Charholi, Moshi, and Dudulgaon, are grappling with severe water shortages.
Housing society members face urgent water scarcity due to the depletion of bore wells, necessitating reliance on costly private tankers. Complaints of insufficient and low-pressure water supply are on the rise, exacerbated by a significant decrease in water from the Andhra Dam, leaving affected villages parched for five consecutive days.
Over the past four years, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has implemented an alternate-day water supply, resulting in decreased complaints for ten months annually. However, as April and May approach, complaints surge. The recent leakage at the Nighoje embankment on the Indrayani River further diminishes water availability, with only 21 million litres (MLD) received for the city over three to four days, creating a deficit of approximately 59 MLD. Despite attempts by PCMC to address the crisis, including extracting an additional 10 MLD from the Pavana Dam, residents continue to endure water woes.
In housing societies where the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is inactive, residents receive water at a fixed rate of 135 litres per day. STP installation is obligatory only for housing societies with over 100 units; those with fewer units are exempt. However, PCMC alleges that residents in such communities are receiving water at a rate of 90 litres per day. Recently, there have been numerous complaints from residents regarding insufficient water pressure during supply.
Moreover, the challenge persists for housing societies with insufficient water storage capacity to accommodate the alternate-day supply schedule, forcing reliance on private tankers. Coupled with issues of contaminated water supply, residents face multifaceted water-related woes amidst the rapid urbanization of Pimpri Chinchwad.
