PUNE: Even though the irrigation department has started releasing water from Khadakwasla dam into the Mutha right bank canal which supplies water to the city, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is undecided on the withdrawal of water cuts.

“The civic administration has not yet tabled a proposal to withdraw the
existing water cuts. However, we will raise the issue with the
administration and take a decision,” said mayor Vaishali Bankar, speaking to reporters on Monday.

Khadakwasla dam is almost filled to capacity and water is now being
released at a rate of 1,300 cusecs (1 cusec = 28.317 litres per second).
This will continue for the next seven days. The water discharged into
the canal enables the PMC to lift additional water for the city as well
as benefits smaller towns like Daund and Indapur.

“The state has
to issue directions to withdraw the water cuts. Only then can the PMC
take a final decision and regularize water supply,” said a PMC official.

Since March 1, there has been a 10 per cent water cut in the city, with most areas getting water only in the morning.

The state irrigation department has earmarked 11.5 TMC quota of water
for Pune, but the city draws over 14 TMC water from the reservoirs of
the Khadakwasla, Temghar, Varasgaon
and Panshet dams. The quota is higher than the normal requirement, yet
the city faces a water crisis because of distribution losses and PMC’s
water mismanagement .