Pune’s weekly water cut begins on Thursday, October 15, as the municipal administration seeks to conserve supplies, but questions have emerged over water use at the Pune Municipal Corporation headquarters during a fire brigade mock drill and cleaning activity.
The municipal corporation has decided to stop the city’s water supply every Thursday from October 15 and has appealed to residents to conserve water. Citizens have also been asked not to use drinking water for vehicle washing and other activities considered unnecessary.
According to the report by Pudhari, a mock drill was conducted at the civic headquarters on October 13 as part of activities marking the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. The exercise simulated a fire at the municipal headquarters and was carried out by the fire brigade to test its ability to respond quickly to an emergency.
One fire tender was used during the exercise, and an estimated 1,000 litres of water was released in a high-pressure spray. The report said the quantity was approximate. The water was used as part of the fire-response simulation, where the objective was to recreate conditions requiring an immediate firefighting response.
The use of water during the drill has drawn attention because the city is simultaneously implementing a weekly shutdown to manage water availability. The report noted that the use of water for a fire drill may be necessary for operational preparedness, but also raised questions about whether such exercises can be planned with greater water efficiency during periods of scarcity.
A separate incident at the municipal headquarters has added to the discussion. Water was reportedly released through a pipe to clean gutkha stains on the porch and entrance route of the building on the same day. The report questioned how much water was used for the cleaning and why drinking water was used when recycled or reused water could potentially have been considered.
The two incidents have put the focus on how water-conservation instructions are applied within the civic administration itself. While residents are being asked to reduce consumption, avoid vehicle washing with potable water and adjust to a fixed weekly supply interruption, the municipal corporation’s own use of water is also being examined.
The report did not establish the exact quantity of water used for cleaning or whether an alternative non-potable water source was available at the headquarters. It also did not record a detailed response from the municipal corporation on the cleaning activity or on measures to reduce water use during future drills.
Pune’s weekly water shutdown is scheduled to continue every Thursday under the municipal corporation’s water-conservation decision. The immediate operational question for the civic administration is how it will balance essential emergency preparedness with stricter controls on potable-water use during the conservation period.
