PUNE: Water cuts in the city will continue till the next monsoon if the four dams that provide water to Pune are not filled to capacity this year. Municipal commissioner Mahesh Pathak said on Tuesday that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) cannot withdraw water cuts and regularise twice-a-day supply with the existing water storage.

In the general body meeting on Tuesday, corporators from all parties demanded that as dams providing water to the city are filled up to 75% of their capacity, the civic body should withdraw water cuts being enforced since March. The city has been receiving once-a-day water supply, following below average rainfall in the catchment areas of the dams.

"The dams providing water to the city - Khadakwasla, Temghar, Varasgaon and Panshet - have 75% water of their total capacity. This time last year, the storage was about 95%. We have to plan the drinking water supply for the city till July 31, 2013, or probably even till August 15. In the last few years, rains have evaded the region even in September and we need to save water for the next year. In this scenario, it is impossible to withdraw existing water cuts," Pathak said.

The civic chief said, "Since March, the city was receiving 1,000 million litres per day (MLD) water from reservoirs. After the recent rain spells, the city now lifts about 1,100 MLD water. This means that the 20% water cuts have been reduced to 10%. We can provide sufficient water to all parts once a day. But with the available quota, we cannot afford to resume twice-a-day supply."

Though the irrigation department has earmarked 11.5 TMC water for Pune, the city draws over 14 TMC water from the reservoirs of the four dams. Despite exceeding the quota, the city faces a water crisis throughout the year because of distribution losses.

Pathak added that the civic administration would address these issues and would also look into low pressure supply that some localities receive. "The civic body has banned the use of drinking water for construction and other non-drinking purposes, such as washing cars. The administration has readied tenders for an equitable water supply scheme. The state has also promised water to the city from the Bhama Askhed dam," he said.