Pune district administration is considering a 20% reduction in water use from the Khadakwasla dam system and a 10% reduction from Pavana dam to conserve supplies until the next monsoon, District Collector Jitendra Dudi said on Thursday.
The proposed Pune water cut plan is being reviewed with the irrigation department, municipal corporations and the Zilla Parishad. The administration is assessing available stocks, current consumption and the India Meteorological Department’s forecast, while also considering the possible impact of El Niño conditions.
The Khadakwasla dam system currently holds around 88% of its water stock, while Pavana dam is approximately 95% full, Dudi said at a press conference at the Pune Collectorate. Despite these levels, the administration is examining consumption-control measures to ensure that stored water lasts through the period before the next monsoon.
The decision will also affect irrigation planning for the Rabi season. Dudi said priority would be given first to crops needed for animal fodder, followed by vegetables and perennial crops. The administration is preparing irrigation rotations as part of its effort to manage water availability across drought-affected areas.
The district has identified 10 drought-affected talukas, where officials are conducting panchnamas, or crop damage assessments. Around 80% of the assessments had been completed by Thursday, with the remaining work expected to be finished by Sunday, Dudi said.
Officials are visiting farms to establish the extent of crop damage. Farmers who have complaints about the assessment process have been asked to approach their respective tehsildars. The district administration plans to submit the assessment details at the earliest so that eligible farmers can receive financial assistance before Diwali.
Water shortages are already being addressed through tanker supplies in parts of the district. Eight tankers are currently operating, including four in Baramati taluka, three in Indapur and one in Daund. The administration’s next steps include completing crop assessments, finalising irrigation rotations and deciding whether the proposed reductions in water use will be implemented.
