Pune: With the summer season approaching fast across the country, most parts of Maharashtra are once again under the grip of water scarcity. Pune is among those districts which has started facing water scarcity . Even as Pune is one of the major metropolitan cities in India, there are various factors behind waster shortage.
As per the report published by Times Now recently, the Canal Advisory Committee has assured Punekars that there won’t be any water shortage or supply cuts in the city. However, despite that the residents of the city are facing reduced time for water supply and low pressure. This has led to massive concerns across Pune.
Because of the water shortage, the daily life has already become a challenge for the people. Among the localities which are facing difficulties in filling up their water storage tanks include Janwadi, Wadarwali, Gokhalenagar, Karve Nagar and Bibwewadi. The situation has forced residents to stay awake late at night and collect water for the next day.
There are various factors the shortage of water in the city. Among them include:
Demand and supply: With Pune fast becoming one of the major cities in India, various Information Technology and Multi-National Companies (MNCs) are fast coming up. Due to this people from across the country are coming to Pune for work. This has added to extra burden in Pune leading to shortage of water.
Contamination: Various localities in the city are facing contamination issue in water, which is adding to the water scarcity in the city. This has led to fear of disease among locals.
Dependency on water tankers: For many in the city, water tanker in the city has become a lifeline to to lack of water supply through municipality pipelines. However even the facility like water tankers too have its set of problems.
PMC services: The main problems the Punekars are facing is the inadequate water supply. There are times when localities do not get regular water supply from the municipality.
Water reservoirs near Pune
There are number of water reservoirs near Pune. Among them include- Khadakwasla Dam, Mulshi Dam, Panshet Dam, Varasgaon Dam, among others.
Khadakwasla Dam: A major source of water supply in Pune, this reservoir is located on Mutha River, which is nearly 20-21 km from the city. Well known training centre like National Defence Academy and Central Water and Power Research Station(CWPRS) are situated near the dam.
Mulshi Dam: This dam is located in Mulshi taluka. The water of this dam is used for for irrigation and power generation purposes at the Bhira hydroelectric power plant, which is operated by Tata Power. The lake is formed through Mulshi River backwater.
Panshet Dam: This dam is situated on the Ambi river,nearly 50 km south-west of Pune. This dam was constructed for the irrigation and drinking water purpose in areas like Temghar, Varasgaon and Khadakwasla dams.
Varasgaon Dam: Also known as Veer Baaji Pasalkar Dam, the Varasgaon dam is situated on the Musi River . The water of the dam is also supplied in Pune.
How authorities plan to tackle water crisis?
With an aim to tackle the increasing water crisis in Pune, the Irrigation Department has asked the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to use water carefully, amid drop in water levels in four dams of Khadakwasla, Temghar, Panshet, and Varasgaon are dropping. These four dams hold 15.55 TMC of water, which is expected to last for about about two and a half months. The city needs an addition of 2.5 TMC to last till monsoon this year.
As per My Pune Pulse, the PMC to reduce water usage by 200 million litre per day. The city 1,650 MLD daily currently. As per him, even as the water level is satisfactory at the moment, precautions have t be taken due to unpredictable summer conditions.
