Pune’s Water Supply Secure: No Cuts as Dams Near Full Capacity

Pune, 3rd September 2023: In a reassuring turn of events for Pune’s residents, the Khadakwasla Canal Committee has taken a significant decision aimed at ensuring a continuous water supply to the city, at least for the foreseeable future.

The committee, led by Guardian Minister Chandrakant Patil, made an official announcement on Saturday that there will be no water rationing enforced on the city’s water distribution, and the current water supply schedule will remain unchanged. This announcement comes as a welcome relief amid concerns of water scarcity, particularly during the dry months.

The committee has assured the public that the next assessment of water reserves is planned for mid-October, at which point decisions regarding water distribution to both urban and rural areas will be made based on available water storage.

Minister Patil stressed that the Khadakwasla Reservoir Circle currently has ample water storage, allowing the city to continue receiving water according to the existing schedule. This decision brings relief to residents who rely on this essential resource for their daily needs. Presently, the collective water stock in the four dams within the Khadakwasla Circle stands at 27.47 TMC, an impressive 94.24% of their total capacity. It’s noteworthy that the storage levels in Panshet and Varasgaon dams have reached their maximum capacities. However, it should be mentioned that the month of August witnessed a meager addition of less than 5 TMC of water to the dams due to sparse rainfall in the catchment areas.

Aniruddha Pawaskar, the head of Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) Water Supply Department, emphasized that dam storage is nearly at full capacity, and the existing water supply schedule is valid until mid-October. He also indicated that PMC is actively working on reducing wastage and regulating the use of drinking water, particularly at washing facilities and construction sites.

The meeting included the presence of Daund MLA Rahul Kul, representing rural areas, who emphasized the significance of responsible water usage to ensure an adequate supply for both rural and urban regions. Officials from the State Irrigation Department informed the committee that water releases for crop irrigation had commenced last month and would continue for another month. In a positive development, the Irrigation Department initiated water releases from Panshet to the powerhouses following a period of favorable rainfall. This action ensures the efficient utilization of available resources.

However, it’s important to note that the storage level in Khadakwasla has intentionally been reduced to 60% to accommodate water releases from upstream dams. This demonstrates a coordinated effort to effectively manage water resources and maintain a balance between the water needs of urban and rural areas.