Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is grappling with a significant new responsibility under revised construction permit regulations.

The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has shifted the responsibility of water supply to the PMC, referencing a 1960 state government order.

According to this directive, the PMC is now required to supply water to 51 additional villages within a 5-kilometer radius of its jurisdiction.

The inclusion of these 51 villages stretches across various locations including Maan, Hinjewadi, Theur (on the Solapur road), Kesnand (on the Nagar road), and as far as Bopdev village near Saswad.

The current water supply situation is already strained, with the PMC providing water only once a day to half the city and supplying tanker water to 34 newly included villages. The additional requirement for these 51 new villages raises concerns about the feasibility of sourcing adequate water.

The PMC has historically sourced 17 TMC of water annually from the Khadakwasla project. However, with the new villages added to its responsibility, the PMC now requires 21 TMC of water to meet demand.

The PMC has also requested additional water from the Mulshi Dam, but the Irrigation Department has only approved 14.82 TMC. This leaves a shortfall of 3 to 4 TMC, exacerbating the challenge of meeting the water needs for both the city and the newly included villages.

Villages Affected:

• Eastern Villages: Wadki, Lonikalbhor, Kunjirwadi, Kadamkavasti, Theur, Kolwadi, Avhalwadi, Manjri Khurd, Taleranwadi, Kesnand, Bhavani, Lonikand, Tulapur, Phulgav.

• Southern Villages: Kalewadi, Zhendevadi, Jadhavwadi, Chambli, Bopgaon, Garade, Askarwadi, Patharwadi, Bhivdi, Shindewadi, Sasewadi, Gogalwadi, Velu, Donje, Tanajinagar, Gaudara, Arvi, Mordara, Thopatewadi, Ghera Singhgad.

• Western Villages: Gorhe Budruk, Kudje, Mokarwadi, Bhukum, Bhugav, Lavle, Nande, Chande, Maan, Bhoirwadi, Hinjewadi, Marunji Dattwadi, Kasarsai Nere, and Jambe.