Pune water cut measures have been ordered across the city and other local bodies in the district after storage in the Khadakwasla dam chain fell 25% compared with last year, according to a report by Sakal – Pune. District Collector Jitendra Dudi has directed all municipal corporations and municipalities to reduce water supply by 20% and plan drinking-water availability until 31 August 2027.
The Water Resources Department has suggested that Pune city move to an alternate-day water supply schedule because the available storage must last through the following August. The district-wide order applies to all local self-government bodies, although the report does not specify when each local authority will implement the reduction or how individual supply schedules will change.
Collector Dudi said the available water stock must be managed carefully and systematically against the backdrop of El Niño conditions. The stated objective is to ensure that drinking-water supplies can be maintained until 31 August 2027. The order covers Pune as well as other urban local bodies in the district that draw on the available water resources.
The Khadakwasla dam chain is a key source for Pune’s water supply, making its storage position central to the city’s municipal planning. The reported 25% year-on-year reduction has prompted authorities to move from routine supply management to a conservation and enforcement plan. The report does not provide the current live storage volume, the previous year’s comparable storage figure or a detailed ward-wise impact assessment.
Alongside the proposed reduction, the district administration has ordered action against unauthorised water extraction. Joint flying squads involving the revenue administration, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited, the police and the Water Resources Department are to be established for immediate enforcement.
The squads have been instructed to seize pumps and motors used for unauthorised extraction. Where water theft is detected, the electricity distribution department has been directed to disconnect the power supply of those involved. The district administration has also instructed the police to provide security wherever required during enforcement operations.
The order places two responsibilities on local authorities: reduce consumption through a 20% cut and protect the remaining supply from unauthorised use. For residents, the immediate operational effect will depend on how Pune Municipal Corporation and other local bodies translate the district-level direction into daily schedules, pressure management and area-wise distribution. The Sakal report does not state whether the city has issued a final public timetable.
The next steps are the formation of the joint enforcement squads and implementation of the water-supply reduction by the district’s municipal corporations and municipalities. Authorities are expected to plan available drinking-water stocks through 31 August 2027 while acting against unauthorised extraction from the system.
