Special Correspondent
Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has come under fire for excessive water consumption, prompting the state’s Irrigation department to issue a formal notice. The department raised concerns after discovering that Pune has been drawing water far beyond its allotted quota, worsening the ongoing water shortage.
Pune, which has been struggling with water scarcity in recent years, was granted a water quota of 14 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) by the state’s Water Resources Department. However, the PMC has been found to be extracting up to 21 TMC, exceeding the permitted limit by a significant margin. This breach of regulations has led to action from the state’s Water Resources Minister, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who instructed the department to serve a notice to the PMC.
Addressing the issue in a recent press conference, Minister Vikhe Patil also discussed the state’s ongoing workshop on the Krishna and Godavari river-linking projects, an initiative aimed at resolving water distribution issues in Maharashtra. He explained that the Water Resources Department had received numerous complaints about the PMC’s handling of water resources, leading to the notice.
“The PMC is supposed to adhere to a quota of 14 TMC, but they have been drawing much more than that,” said Vikhe Patil. “This over-extraction is a violation of regulations and places a heavy strain on the region’s water resources, especially with the rising demand for water.”
Vikhe Patil also highlighted how Pune’s rapid urban expansion, especially the growth of townships and residential complexes, is exacerbating the water crisis. “The water meant for the general public is being diverted to luxury projects and construction businesses,” he pointed out. He emphasized that this trend is putting ordinary citizens at a disadvantage, further contributing to the city’s water shortage.
With water availability already dwindling for many residents due to high consumption, the situation is expected to worsen unless immediate action is taken. Minister Vikhe Patil stressed the importance of ensuring that PMC adheres to water usage guidelines, promising that the state government will monitor the situation closely and will not tolerate any further violations.
Furthermore, the minister called for Pune to secure its independent water sources, citing Mumbai and Navi Mumbai as examples. These cities have developed their own dams to meet their residents’ water needs, reducing their reliance on external sources. “Pune should follow the same path,” Vikhe Patil asserted. “The PMC should take the lead in building its own dams to ensure a sustainable water supply for the future.”
