PUNE: Pune airport authorities seem to have paid heed to possible water cuts hinted by District Guardian Minister Girish Bapat during a Canal Committee meeting, as they have started saving 15,000 litres of water per day by installing water aerators to all taps on its premises.

Pune Airport Director Ajay Kumar said, “The financial gains are huge, but we don’t look at water in terms of money. Water is an essential natural commodity and all of us need to make every possible effort to save it. The airport is conserving water and saving 15,000 litres of water per day, which is an essential saving.”

In the past few years, the Pune airport has witnessed increasing number of flights from 60 to 150 per day. The footfall at the airport has also increased from 90,000 to 8.2 million.

Recently, the Pune airport authority built 11 new washrooms in the terminal building while the aerators are being used from the first day.

“We have built five toilets for men, three for women and three for differently-abled passengers. Moreover, the renovation of men’s toilet, two ladies toilets and a differently-abled toilet is likely to be completed by April 30. We are using aerators in all taps, which reduces the flow and saves water,” said Kumar.

“With the increasing passenger population and expansion of work, demand for water is also rising. The sustainability of our operations relies on our ability to obtain appropriate quality and quantity of water, use it conscientiously and manage it responsibly,” said Ajay Kumar.