Pune Faces Major Water Crisis: Supriya Sule Urges CM to Intervene as Water Cut Looms
PUNE – Residents of Pune may soon face a severe water shortage as the Water Resources Department (WRD) has threatened to disconnect the city’s supply over unpaid dues and “excessive” water usage. Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule has officially intervened, writing a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking an immediate resolution to prevent a dry summer for the city.
The dispute stems from the water allocation from the Khadakwasla dam chain. According to the WRD, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) was sanctioned 11.60 TMC of water. However, records show that by January 31, the city had already utilized 11.23 TMC, leaving a negligible balance expected to last only about 12 days.
Financial Penalties and Supply Threats
The WRD claims that for the 2024-25 fiscal year, the PMC exceeded its quota by a staggering 8.44 TMC. Consequently, the department has slapped the civic body with heavy penalties. The WRD has warned that if these outstanding arrears are not cleared promptly, they will be forced to slash or disconnect the water supply to the city.
In her letter to the Chief Minister, Sule highlighted the growing distress among citizens. “Many parts of Pune are already experiencing water cuts, disrupting daily life. If this lack of coordination between the PMC and the Water Resources Department continues, the situation will turn critical as we approach the peak summer months,” she stated.
Call for Government Intervention
Sule urged the state government to facilitate better coordination between the two departments to find a middle ground. She emphasized that the common citizen should not be penalized for administrative friction or budgetary disputes.
With Pune’s population expanding rapidly, the strain on the Khadakwasla reservoir has become a recurring flashpoint between local and state authorities. Puneites now look toward the Chief Minister’s Office for a reprieve to ensure that taps don’t run dry in March.
