Irrigation department calls for 10% water cut in Pune, civic body objects citing increased demand

He said, “There is an argument about water consumed by the civic body, with the irrigation department claiming its own quantity and the PMC claiming its figure of water consumed. The Irrigation department is creating pressure on the PMC to introduce water cuts, but the civic body will not succumb to that.”

The PMC draws water from the Khadakwasla dam and the Bhama Askhed dam to meet Pune’s water demand. Most of the water is drawn from the Khadakwasla dam upstream of the Mutha river, which is the main source of water for the city. The Government has allocated 11.6 TMC of water for the year for Pune, but the civic body draws 17 TMC of water, citing the increased population of the city due to rapid urbanisation and the floating population, which visits the city for their livelihood from neighbouring rural areas and districts.

“The irrigation department claims a high quantity of water consumed by the city, and the civic administration has not been successful in proving the actual consumption,” said Ram, adding that the civic body did not draw more water than required for Pune city.

PMC’s water meter project

The municipal commissioner also said the civic body would soon complete its ambitious project of metering water connections by December-end. This will show the exact figure of consumption by each building and also put a check on excess water use if done by anyone, he added.

The project is aimed at providing equitable water to every Pune city resident, for which many overhead water tanks have been constructed, and the water supply pipeline system has been revamped.

An officer of the irrigation department said the department urged the PMC to introduce a 10 per cent water cut and reduce its consumption, which was more than the per capita norm.

“The excess consumption of water by PMC means less water for irrigation purposes in rural areas. If it continues like this, then there will be less water for irrigation in the district.”

The Government has also directed the PMC to increase the recycling of water, which can be used to overcome the shortage of water for Irrigation purposes, he said.