The Pune branch of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has strongly spoken against the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for cutting water supply by 15% in 23 areas of the city. MNS leaders say these cuts are fake and should be stopped right away.
MNS city leader Vasant More showed papers proving that Pune’s four big dams – Khadakwasla, Panshet, Varasgaon, and Temghar – are 87.3% full. This is much better than last year when they were only 72.8% full. He says there’s enough water for all 34 lakh people living in Pune until next summer.
PMC officials are trying to defend their decision. They say weather reports show there might be less rain in the coming monsoon. The Municipal Commissioner Vikram Kumar says they’re being careful to save water in case there’s less rain between June and September 2024.
More than 2,300 people in Pune have signed a letter asking PMC to stop these water cuts. MNS has warned that if PMC doesn’t explain their decision with proper facts within seven days, they’ll protest even more strongly. The party wants PMC to show clear details about water storage and usage.
The problem shows bigger issues in how Pune manages its water. Experts say the city wastes 35% of its clean water through leaking pipes and illegal water connections. This waste costs PMC about 147 crore rupees every year. What’s worse, rich areas are getting regular water while poor areas face long hours without water.
PMC’s water department has called for an important meeting on Friday to talk about these problems. They’ve promised to make a full report explaining why they started these water cuts. They’ll also share plans about how to save water in better ways. The residents hope this meeting will bring some good news about their water problems.
The ongoing water management issues have impacted Pune’s business sector with several companies expressing concerns about operational disruptions.
