Pune: Pavana dam, the primary source of drinking water for Pimpri Chinchwad, reached 97% of its storage capacity following heavy rainfall in catchment areas, prompting residents and political leaders to step up demands for Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to withdraw the additional 15% water cut imposed last month.The city already receives water on alternate days, and the civic body had in June announced a further 15% reduction in supply after water levels in Pavana dam dipped sharply. Residents, however, said the continued cut has forced many housing societies to rely on private water tankers, significantly increasing their maintenance costs.“We have to call three to four tankers every two or three days and bear the cost ourselves.
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This is the worst situation we have faced during the monsoon, as we rarely needed tankers at this time of the year in the past,” said Vikram Khopade, a resident of Vardhaman Housing Society in Kaspate Vasti, Wakad.“PCMC collects taxes from us. At the very least, it should withdraw additional water cuts now that the dam is almost full. It should ensure that residents are not forced to spend on tankers during monsoon. We already depend on them during summer,” he added.Maval MP Shrirang Barne also questioned the rationale behind continuing the additional cut when the city’s main water source has almost reached full capacity and water is being released from the reservoir.“The water supply department’s functioning is highly inefficient. Even though Pavana dam is full, citizens are being made to suffer. By continuing the 15% water cut, the administration is forcing residents to buy tanker water, indirectly benefiting the tanker lobby. There is no justification for retaining the restriction when there is sufficient water in the dam and river,” Barne said.The MP also criticised the civic body’s failure to reduce water leakages despite investments in upgrading the distribution network. He said losses of nearly 30-35% continue even after the installation of smart water meters, implementation of the SCADA monitoring system, replacement of pipelines under the AMRUT scheme, and laying of new pipelines in several parts of the city.NCP corporator Nana Vitthal Kate has also written to municipal commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi, stating that residents continue to face inadequate water supply despite improved water availability. He urged PCMC to immediately revoke the additional 15% water cut to provide relief to citizens.Irrigation department officials said 7,500 cusecs of water are currently being released from Pavana dam into the eponymous river, and the discharge is likely to be increased to 12,000 cusecs if heavy rainfall continues in catchments. Irrigation department and PCMC have both issued an alert to residents along the riverbed to remain vigilant and shift belongings from low-lying areas to safer locations in view of the increased water release.A senior PCMC official said withdrawal of additional 15% water cuts is already under consideration and a final decision is likely to be made soon. “The general body meeting is scheduled on Monday, where a discussion is likely to take place on this issue and a decision is expected,” he said.
