Pune water cut measures have intensified after storage in the Khadakwasla dam chain fell below the level recorded in previous years, prompting the Pune Municipal Corporation to begin a Thursday water shutdown and prepare a wider conservation plan.
The decision follows a meeting chaired by Pune district collector Jitendra Dudi, where local bodies were instructed to plan for a 20% reduction in water use. The civic administration is expected to prepare a detailed plan within a week, while officials assess how to preserve drinking-water supplies until the end of August 2027.
Municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram said a 10% reduction was already being implemented through the Thursday shutdown. He said the administration had not yet taken a final decision on introducing alternate-day water supply across the city. Any further reduction would require decisions about the areas to be affected and the method of implementation, he said.
The commissioner said a uniform reduction across Pune could create greater hardship because some areas currently receive adequate supply while residents in other parts already face low pressure or insufficient water. The civic body is therefore examining a more localised plan based on conditions in different parts of the city.
According to information presented at the district collector’s office meeting, the Khadakwasla dam chain has 20 thousand million cubic feet of water available after excluding dead storage and buffer storage. This is reportedly 25% lower than the level normally recorded at this point. The available stock has led the administration to begin planning for careful use of water well before the next August period.
The Water Resources Department said Pune may need a 25% water reduction. Local authorities, however, have been instructed to plan for a 20% cut. The difference between the department’s assessment and the immediate planning target leaves the municipal administration with the task of determining how much water can be saved while limiting disruption to residents.
The Thursday shutdown has begun, but the schedule for some areas supplied by the Vadgaon water centre has not yet been finalised. The municipal administration is attempting to include those areas in the Thursday shutdown as well, although a final timetable has not been announced.
The district administration has also directed the formation of joint enforcement teams involving the revenue department, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company, police and the Water Resources Department. These teams will act against unauthorised water extraction, and pumps and motors used for illegal withdrawal are to be seized. The electricity distribution company has been instructed to disconnect power connections where water theft is detected, while police support will be provided when necessary.
The municipal corporation is expected to announce the broader water-cut plan and the affected supply schedules within a week. Until then, the Thursday shutdown remains the confirmed citywide conservation measure, while the timing and extent of any additional reduction remain under consideration.
