Enough water to last till July 31, unnecessary panic being created, says Girish Bapat

Bapat, a BJP leader, indirectly took potshots at Mayor Prashant Jagtap, an NCP leader, who expressed anxiety over the depletion of dam levels.

Girish Bapat

Guardian Minister Girish Bapat reiterated his stand on Tuesday that there would be “no further water cuts” and maintained that there is enough water to last till July 31. He said that unnecessary panic is being created when water has been reserved scientifically for this period in consultation with the district collector, who has been given powers to manage all water resources in the district, and the irrigation department.

Bapat, a BJP leader, indirectly took potshots at Mayor Prashant Jagtap, an NCP leader, who expressed anxiety over the depletion of dam levels. “At present, we have a storage of 1.54 TMC and if we consider the dead stock of 1 TMC which can be used, we should be comfortable. Moreover, even as there were no rains in the month of June, there will be rains in July and so the water stock has been reserved accordingly,” Bapat said, addressing a press meet ahead of the palkhi procession coming to Pune and on the water situation in the city.

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“There is no need to panic as this is not the only year dam levels have depleted to such low. In the drought year of 2009, dam levels were at 0.72 TMC on the same date, while it was 1.12 TMC in 2012. In those years, we had no facility to use the dead stock. We have the facility this year and so the dead stock too can be drawn if there are no rains. But we are sure that there will be rains in July,” Bapat added. Pune District Collector Saurabh Rao and Municipal Commissioner Kunal Kumar were also present for the meet.

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According to an assessment, PMC would require 1.10 TMC of water till July 31, and so the alternate day water supply should continue. Bapat rubbished rumours of an impending meeting for a water cut in the first week of July and said that they would wait till July 31 for a further decision.

For the palkhi processions, Bapat said that the pre-reserved water would be released for three days as required, as the palkhis would arrive in Pune city on Wednesday and leave on Friday morning. “For three days, there would be continuous water supply which means that instead of 900 MLD, there would be 1,150-1,200 MLD water,” he said.

District collector Saurabh Rao said that water management has been done according to the requirement and water is reserved for the palkhi processions, and so there is no need for additional water to be released.

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