Pune, 11 April 2026: Facing the possibility of drought-like conditions this year, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has proposed water supply cuts and submitted the plan to Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram for approval.
The proposal comes after the irrigation department warned of reduced rainfall due to the anticipated impact of El Niño. Authorities estimate that rainfall could fall below average, prompting concerns about water availability in the coming months.
Currently, around 13 TMC of water remains in the Khadakwasla dam system, which supplies water to Pune. The city requires approximately 1.5 TMC per month, with an additional 4 TMC needed for agricultural use.
Over the next four months, Pune alone is expected to need about 6 TMC of water. Factors like evaporation and leakage could further reduce available reserves, raising the risk of a water crisis if the monsoon is delayed.
To address this, the PMC is considering two main options: shutting down water supply one day a week, which could save around 10% of water, or supplying water on alternate days, which could increase savings to nearly 25%.
However, both options come with technical and social challenges. A weekly shutdown could disrupt supply in nearly 30% of the city for up to two to three days before normal flow resumes.
On the other hand, alternate-day supply may worsen shortages in areas already facing low water pressure, potentially leading to public dissatisfaction.
Pune currently receives around 1,560 MLD (million litres per day) of water from the Khadakwasla, Panshet, Varasgaon, and Temghar dams. However, nearly 40% of this water is lost due to leakage and theft, an issue the administration is attempting to address to improve efficiency.
Municipal officials stated that a weekly one-day water shutdown could help save about four days worth of water each month, building a reserve of nearly 12 days over three months. If water is supplied on alternate days, the savings could reach up to 25%, significantly easing pressure on limited resources.
While the administration is focusing on reducing leakage and ensuring efficient distribution, the final decision on water cuts now rests with the municipal commissioner.
