Pune’s water cut will begin on October 15, with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) suspending supply across the city every Thursday and restricting the use of drinking water for construction and vehicle washing. The measures have been introduced after Maharashtra recorded a rainfall deficit and the state government directed civic bodies to impose a 10 per cent water cut.
The weekly suspension will apply across Pune, meaning residents will not receive water supply on Thursdays. The PMC said the arrangement is intended to conserve available stocks and ensure that the city’s water lasts until August 31, 2027.
The decision follows a state government directive that cited the impact of El Niño on this year’s monsoon rainfall and the possibility that its effects could continue into next year. Pavneet Kaur, PMC Additional Municipal Commissioner, said the civic body needed to use available water judiciously and plan its distribution over the coming period.
“The Maharashtra government has issued an order saying El Niño led to less rainfall this monsoon and its effects are likely to continue next year. Thus, it is necessary to use available water judiciously and plan properly so that it lasts till August 31 next year,” Kaur said.
According to the PMC, the dams supplying water to Pune currently hold 26.22 thousand million cubic feet (TMC), a level lower than the storage recorded during the corresponding period last year. The state government has asked civic bodies to undertake micro-planning, improve the efficiency of water use and distribute supplies according to priority.
The government’s directive requires civic bodies to implement a 10 per cent water cut and allows the reduction to be increased if conditions worsen. The PMC said its Thursday suspension would help preserve water supplies until the next monsoon.
The conservation measures also prohibit the use of drinking water for construction. The PMC has recommended that construction sites use greywater instead. Vehicle washing centres have been ordered to close until further notice.
The civic body has also appealed to residents not to use drinking water for swimming pools, washing vehicles, gardening or cleaning open spaces. Citizens have been asked to report leaks and instances of drinking-water wastage to the civic administration.
The weekly water suspension and other restrictions will remain part of the PMC’s conservation measures as the civic administration plans supplies through August 31, 2027. Further increases in the water cut will depend on the situation, in line with the state government’s directive.
