The Times of India 22.08.2012
Water cuts may stay till next monsoon
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.