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‘No water in summer, floods in monsoon’: Why MP Medha Kulkarni wants to use MPLAD funds for rainwater harvesting in Pune

If there is no proper system to store rainwater and refill groundwater, Pune will face a severe water crisis in the next few years, Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni warned.

4 min readPuneFeb 13, 2026 05:26 PM IST

The Rajya Sabha MP said that it was not possible for housing complexes in densely populated areas to construct big tanks for rainwater storage due to space constraints, high construction costs, lack of proper technology and technical guidance. (Express File Photo)

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni on Friday urged the use of Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) funds for rainwater harvesting projects in Pune, raising concern that rampant concretisation in the city was depleting groundwater and worsening water scarcity.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Kulkarni said that Pune’s neglect of rainwater harvesting has become a serious concern, affecting not only the environment but also water security, flood control, and the climate.

“A city like Pune, which receives sufficient rainfall, has to face water scarcity in summer and flooding in the monsoon. The main reason behind it is that rainwater harvesting is not done scientifically, and water conservation is not done properly, which is impacting the groundwater table,” she said.

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It has also been observed that in many places, rainwater harvesting is not done as per standard norms, due to which the groundwater gets polluted, she said. Without proper filtration and regular maintenance, the stored water is not proper for domestic use and is not effective in increasing the groundwater level, she added.

“Uncontrolled urbanisation and rapid concretisation in Pune are closing natural water streams and open spaces. This has led to a decrease in the percolation of water, and because of that, during heavy rainfall, water mostly flows through nallahs and rivers, which leads to flooding in the city…groundwater level does not see any change,” said Kulkarni.

The rain pattern is also changing due to climate change, as now there is heavy rainfall in a short span, instead of the low rainfall for long, she said. “In the current situation, if there is no proper system for storage of rainwater and refilling the groundwater, a city like Pune will face a severe water crisis in the next few years,” she said.

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“It is my demand that the MPLAD funds be allowed to be spent for rainwater harvesting and storage in tanks in cooperative housing societies. This will ensure direct benefit to the middle class and encourage water conservation at the community level,” said Kulkarni.

Kulkarni said there should be financial incentives such as rebates in property tax and discounts in water tax for housing societies that install technically sound rainwater harvesting systems, saying such measures would encourage people to adopt water conservation.

She also demanded that rainwater harvesting and water conservation be made mandatory for all new commercial or big residential projects. “There should not be mere compulsion but a permanent system for its digital tracking, physical verification and timely audit of rainwater harvesting projects. The builder who does not follow should be punished by registering an offence and penalised for not starting appropriate rainwater harvesting projects,” she said, adding that effective water conservation would ease the water crisis, aid flood control, save power, and help climate balance.

The BJP MP said that she was hopeful that the Centre would take the issue seriously and push for rainwater harvesting and water conservation in all major cities, including Pune.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Pune. With over 22 years of experience in the industry, he is a highly specialized journalist whose work focuses on the intersection of urban infrastructure, governance, and sustainability. Professional Background Role: As Assistant Editor, he plays a key role in the editorial direction of the Pune bureau, specializing in urban policy and its direct impact on citizens. Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a PG Diploma in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He also studied at the prestigious Fergusson College. Impactful Reporting: He is credited with research-based articles on conservancy staff (waste workers) that influenced national policy for better working conditions. He is also known for exposing the contrast between high-end infrastructure (like helipads for leaders) and the lack of basic amenities like schools in their home districts. Personal Interests: An avid trekker and sports enthusiast, his personal interest in the outdoors often informs his reporting on environmental protection and sustainable development. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) His reporting in late 2025 has been dominated by the upcoming January 2026 Civic Polls in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the city's infrastructure boom: 1. Political Analysis (Civic Elections 2026) "Not friendly but a bitter fight lies ahead between BJP and NCP for PMC, PCMC" (Dec 22, 2025): A detailed look at the intense rivalry between the Mahayuti partners as they prepare for the January 15 municipal elections. "Pune civic polls: Big blow to NCP, NCP(SP) as leaders switch to BJP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on high-profile poaching and party-hopping ahead of the elections. "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): Analyzing the results of the local self-government body elections as a precursor to the main civic polls. 2. Infrastructure & Urban Development "Looking Ahead at 2026: Pune to see inauguration of much-awaited Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar metro route" (Dec 22, 2025): An "outlook" piece on the critical Metro Line 3 project expected to finish by March 2026. "Building Pune: PMC to construct double-decker bridge over Mula-Mutha River" (Dec 18, 2025): Detailing a major project aimed at easing traffic between Hadapsar and Kharadi. "Condition of highway from Pune to Kolhapur to improve in a year: Gadkari" (Dec 4, 2025): Reporting on the Union Minister’s assurances regarding one of the state's most critical transport corridors. 3. Civic Governance & Environment "Install sensors, LED indicators at construction sites within 15 days: PMC to builders" (Dec 16, 2025): A follow-up to the "Breathless Pune" series, reporting on new mandates for builders to monitor air quality in real-time. "Errors in electoral rolls: PMC corrects data of 92,466 voters" (Dec 16, 2025): Tracking the administrative efforts to clean up the voter lists before the 2026 elections. Signature Style Ajay Jadhav is known for accountability journalism. His work often bridges the gap between high-level policy and the "ground zero" reality of Pune's residents. He is particularly focused on Sustainable Development, ensuring that as Pune grows into a "Bharat Mandapam" style destination (referring to his report on the Lohegaon project), its environmental and social safeguards remain intact. X (Twitter): @ajay_khape ... Read More

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