Pune: Around 60-70% of water parks in and around Pune have either temporarily shut down or curtained their activity as water shortage hits operations.“We are shut for renovation and maintenance for the next two to three months. We have been closed since last month. Water shortage is a real problem, but we will reopen in Jan-Feb,” Ganesh Ghule of Krushnai Water Park said.Diamond Water Park has restricted operations to weekends and is preparing for a temporary shutdown. “We are operating only on Saturdays and Sundays for now. We will soon shut for renovation and reopen as a resort, not a water park,” a manager of the park said.Water parks require large volumes of water for pools, rides and hygiene maintenance, making them particularly vulnerable during periods of scarcity. The operators said normal services could resume only after water availability improves. Sentosa Resorts and Water Park on Mumbai-Pune expressway has also temporarily closed its water park section. “We have received a notice from the management to temporarily close the water park,” a manager said.The shutdowns come at a crucial time for the industry. Operators said the Oct-Dec festive season typically contributed 30-40% of their annual business, raising concerns about revenue losses and the impact on seasonal employment. RB Ocean Water Park at Donaje has suspended operations for the past week due to lack of water. “We source water from our borewell and from Nanded, but there is no water right now,” the owner said.Some facilities continue to operate but remain uncertain about water availability. “We are operating right now, but water levels in our wells are low. We don’t know if the supply will last a week or 10 days. Till there is water, we will operate,” Mangesh Kadam, owner of Prabhushree Agro Tourism and Water Park in Nirgudi, said.
