Pune Water Crisis Deepens: 400 Complaints Flood Municipal Authorities
Pune, 9th April 2024: Pune is grappling with a severe water crisis as the demand for drinking water escalates while the supply remains stagnant, resulting in widespread disruption of water services. Over the past four days, the Pune Municipal Corporation’s water supply department has been inundated with approximately 400 complaints, marking a significant surge of 35 to 40 percent in grievances.
As the scorching summer heat intensifies, the demand for drinking water has surged, exacerbating the situation. The city currently draws 1,650 to 1,700 million liters of water daily from the dam to meet the escalating demand. However, in recent weeks, an additional 80 to 100 million liters of water have been extracted daily from the municipal dam. Despite this increased extraction, many parts of the city continue to face acute water scarcity.
Disrupted water supply has been particularly acute in areas such as Fursungi, Uruli, Hadapsar, Vadgaonsheri, Pashan, Aundh, Dhankawadi, Sukhsagarnagar, Balajinagar, Ambegaon, Dhayari, and Narhe.
Chief Engineer of the municipal water supply department, Nandkishore Jagtap, acknowledged the surge in complaints and stated that efforts are underway to alleviate the situation by supplying water through tankers to affected areas.
However, even the distribution of water through tankers has not been without challenges, as reports of a black market for water have surfaced. Municipal authorities have acknowledged these reports and have initiated a toll-free telephone service to register complaints related to the illicit sale of water. To date, only two complaints have been received, originating from Fursungi and Kalas areas. However, due to incomplete information provided in the complaints, authorities have urged complainants to furnish accurate details to facilitate appropriate action against errant tanker drivers.
