After Bangalore, Pune faces potential water crisis as groundwater and dam levels fall
Pune, a city already grappling with various challenges, is now facing a developing water crisis. With summer setting in, residents are finding it increasingly difficult to meet their daily water needs, despite proactive measures like rainwater harvesting and continuous appeals for water conservation. The city, following in the footsteps of Bengaluru, is on the verge of experiencing severe water scarcity due to diminishing groundwater levels and decreasing reservoir capacities within the district.
The primary cause of this dire situation is identified as the excessive extraction of groundwater post-monsoon, severely affecting the natural replenishment of water sources.
The situation is further exacerbated by the current state of the dams that are pivotal to Pune’s water supply. The collective storage in these reservoirs has significantly dropped to 45.90 percent, amounting to 13.38 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic feet), a notable decrease from last year’s 54.17 percent storage, amounting 15.80 TMC.
As per the latest official records, the cumulative water storage in the Khadakwasla reservoir is reported at 54.39 percent (1.07 TMC), with Panshet reservoir at 48.10 percent (5.12 TMC), Temghar at 9.11 percent (0.34 TMC), and Warasgaon dam at 53.40 percent capacity (6.85 TMC). These figures expose the pressing need for immediate and effective water management strategies to ensure the city can navigate through the imminent water scarcity challenges.
Mulshi dam which supplies water to some parts of Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park and the outskirts of the city is currently at 45.88% storage amounting to 9.13 TMC and Pawana dam that supplies water to PCMC areas is at 46.17% amounting to 3.93 TMC.
In response to the escalating concerns, District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar, in a meeting with Pune Municipal Corporation officials, had advised against the implementation of water cuts for the city. Instead, he emphasized the need to address water supply complaints, especially from areas suffering from low-pressure supplies.
