Pune: Residents have demanded that the civic administration ensure uninterrupted water supply throughout Fridays and Saturdays, without restricting it to time slots, after facing significant problems due to delays in supply on Friday following Thursday’s scheduled shutdown,Residents have also urged Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to clear obstructions in distribution lines and address airlocks that prevent water from flowing.The demand gained support across several parts of the city after PMC failed to restore water supply in many areas until late Friday afternoon. Some areas received water only on Saturday morning, effectively resulting in a two-day disruption. Several pockets in the Peth areas, Shivajinagar and localities such as Prabhat Road, Aundh, Hadapsar, Kondhwa and Kharadi did not receive water until late Friday evening. Residents said although supply resumed on Saturday, water pressure remained low.Officials from the PMC’s water supply department were busy investigating complaints of disruptions on Saturday. They said supply was restored in phases, but areas located at the tail end of the distribution network or on higher ground received water late.“This was the first water shutdown undertaken in the city this season. We expected to restore supply by the afternoon, but the process was delayed in some areas. Our teams will work to address the shortcomings in areas where restoration took considerable time. We have told officials to keep a close watch on uphill and tail-end pockets. The administration has installed air valves and booster pumps. If required, we will install more boosters and valves to clear trapped air,” said Nandkishor Jagtap, head of the PMC’s water supply department.Residents said two-day-long disruptions were unacceptable, particularly as the city faced the possibility of further water cuts in the coming days.Shivajinagar resident Punit Shetty said his area usually receives water during the morning slot, but residents did not get water at the scheduled time on Friday. “Supply resumed only on Saturday morning, effectively resulting in a two-day disruption. The administration should ensure water supply throughout the day on Fridays and Saturdays,” he said.Anjali Modak, a resident of Sadashiv Peth, said, “Citizens are not asking for additional water, but at least an adequate supply at decent pressure should be ensured after the weekly shutdown.”Civic activist Vikram Gaikwad said the administration should introduce area-wise water supply plans. “Managing supply in smaller areas would be easier than implementing the same strategy across larger zones,” he said.Another official from the PMC’s water supply department said the administration had taken note of all complaints about the disruption reported on Friday.Mayor likely to meet all-party leaders in last week of Oct over additional water cutsPune mayor Manjusha Nagpure is likely to convene a meeting of all-party leaders in PMC during the last week of Oct to discuss a proposal to increase water cuts within the city limits to 20%. The meeting is expected on Oct 28.The city is currently facing a 10% water cut, implemented through a weekly shutdown. To increase the cuts to 20%, the administration would have to introduce water shutdowns on two days a week.Citizens said an alternate-day water supply system would be an inconvenience and make it difficult for the administration to manage distribution effectively.
