Stock barely 20% in four dams, tough call on water supply looms for PMC

Pune: A decision on water cuts for the city is looming with a delay in the monsoon’s arrival and the El Niño effect on it this year.

Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is likely to soon take a call on curtailing water supply because the collective water storage in the four dams in Khadakwasla circle that provide water to the city has dropped to 5.5 TMC on Thursday. That makes it less than 20% of the stock.

The civic administration is working on various options like introducing alternate day water supply or reducing overall water usage to deal with the situation till water levels in dams rise to comfortable levels.

PMC sources said that the civic administration, office bearers and the corporators will take a call on water cuts and measures needed to tackle the situation.

The state irrigation department last month had told PMC to reduce water usage against the backdrop of poor monsoon season.

The decision on water cuts however was postponed till end of May after city mayor Manjusha Nagpure decided to defer it till June for a fresh review based on the forecast from the weather department.

Officials from PMC’s water supply department on Thursday said that they were preparing various plans to deal with the situation.

An official said, “Considering the existing stock of water in the four dams, the situation is not very alarming, but it warrants a detailed inspection as the weather department has predicted the impact of El Nino and a possible drop in rainfall. The city had faced similar situations in recent years where the administration had imposed water cuts and alternate day supply. We are tabling all options for the civic chief to decide.”

Going by the irrigation department’s latest data, Thursday’s collective water stock of 5.5 TMC in the four dams in Khadakwasla circle was similar to last year’s storage dams in the first week of June.

The stock in Bhama Askhed, the fifth dam, which supplies water to some parts of the city dropped to 2.3 TMC (31%).

Sources said that the situation this year could be more challenging if the prediction of a likely drop in overall rainfall comes true.

Nandkishor Jagtap, head of PMC’s water supply department, said, “We are monitoring the situation, and are keeping the plans ready. The decision on water cuts is yet to be taken, all the areas are getting water supply as per schedule. The department will alert the residents about any changes to be introduced in the supply of water.”

Besides supplying water to the city, the irrigation department has continued release of water for summer crops through the Mutha right canal. The water release is expected to be shut in the next few days.

Officials from the irrigation department said that the state govt has instructed them to maintain adequate water stock in dams to meet drinking water requirements till end of Aug. PMC will have to take measures immediately to meet the requirements.