Pune: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) on Monday deferred a decision on withdrawing the additional 15% water cut imposed last month despite Pavana dam reaching 97% capacity and mounting pressure from residents and corporators.Civic officials said a final call would be taken following a meeting with municipal commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi on Tuesday.The issue took centre stage during the general body meeting, where opposition members, led by former mayor and NCP corporator Vaishali Ghodekar-Londhe, questioned the logic of maintaining water shortages while the city’s primary reservoir is nearly full.“Residents are suffering despite the dam being full. This additional 15% cut is no longer justifiable and must be withdrawn immediately,” Ghodekar-Londhe said.Leader of the House Prashant Shitole acknowledged the validity of the demand but noted that the administration could not finalise a rollback in the commissioner’s absence. “We have held several rounds of discussions over the last few days. The matter will be reviewed with the municipal commissioner on Tuesday, and an appropriate decision will be announced thereafter,” Shitole said.As corporators pushed for an immediate resolution, Shitole added that the civic body needs to consult the irrigation department and follow formal procedures before revising the supply schedule. Tuesday’s meeting will also address related grievances, including low water pressure and reports of contamination in the distribution network.Pimpri-Chinchwad currently receives water only on alternate days, a system that forces many housing societies to rely on expensive private tankers. The additional 15% cut was introduced last month on the irrigation department’s recommendation after Pavana dam levels plummeted below 20%. This resulted in even shorter supply hours and reduced pressure across several neighbourhoods.However, the situation at the dam has since reversed. According to the irrigation department, Pavana dam stood at 97% storage capacity on Monday, with 3,400 cusecs of water already being released into the river. Officials warned that discharge could be increased to 12,000 cusecs if heavy rainfall continues in the catchment area.For residents, the continuation of the cut into the heart of the monsoon is a source of immense frustration. Vikas Shinde, a resident of Palm Springs Cooperative Housing Society in Wakad, said his housing society comprising 211 flats still requires three to four tankers daily.“We are spending heavily on tankers despite being diligent taxpayers. Our society alone has spent nearly Rs22 lakh on water tankers over the past year,” Shinde said, highlighting the financial strain caused by the prolonged water crisis
