The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has withdrawn proposed alternate-day water supply cuts for several eastern parts of the city following a review meeting. Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram has directed officials not to implement water cuts in areas supplied by the Bhama Askhed project until the issue of turbid water is fully resolved. The decision benefits nearly 1.17 million residents in East Pune, with areas including Viman Nagar, Dhanori, Lohegaon, Vishrantwadi, Chandan Nagar, Kharadi, Wadgaon Sheri, Nagar Road and several nearby localities now exempt from the rationing plan. Residents in these neighbourhoods have reported muddy water supply for nearly four weeks, with the situation further aggravated by power-related disruptions affecting the water treatment facility.
Pune residents will face alternate-day water supply from June 15 as confirmed by civic officials, with the decision made following a meeting attended by civic officials and leaders of various political parties. Mayor Manjusha Nagpure announced that the move is necessary considering the delayed monsoon and India Meteorological Department's forecast, along with a recommendation by the Water Resources Department to reduce Pune's water consumption by 15 per cent. Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram confirmed that the PMC will have to undertake water cuts, with a decision to be taken shortly. The proposed rationing plan will affect areas under the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) as well as the city's two cantonment boards.
Civic authorities revealed that the city's vital dam chain currently holds approximately 5.87 TMC of water, but cautioned that only about 3 TMC remains usable for municipal supply once other essential allocations are factored in. However, the latest data shows that combined water storage in the Khadakwasla, Bhama Askhed and Pawana dams currently stands at 10.48 TMC, significantly lower than their total storage capacity of 46.49 TMC. With Pune's daily consumption hovering around 1,500 MLD, officials warned that maintaining an uninterrupted, everyday water supply is no longer viable under the current reserves. The impending water crisis has been directly linked to deficient rainfall across catchment areas that feed the Khadakwasla dam chain, compounded by sluggish monsoon advancement.
As part of a stringent emergency response, the municipal corporation is preparing to enforce immediate shutdowns of commercial vehicle washing centres and public swimming pools across the city. The civic body will restrict the utilisation of drinking water for construction activities, shifting the mandate towards the expanded use of treated wastewater for all non-potable purposes. To ensure strict compliance, dedicated inspection squads will conduct aggressive surprise checks throughout Pune to identify and heavily penalise any misuse of potable water. Authorities have also appealed to residents to use water carefully, fix leakages and avoid unnecessary wastage as the city prepares for possible supply restrictions in the coming days.
The proposed rationing plan has triggered concern among residents, who fear daily inconvenience and a sharp rise in dependence on private water tankers, which may become costlier due to increased demand. If water supply is reduced, housing societies and people in Pune may find it harder to get enough water, with many also having to spend more money to buy water in emergencies. The water crisis has created uncertainty about the city's water supply reliability, with residents expressing concerns about the practical implications of alternate-day supply on their daily routines and household needs. The temporary exemption for East Pune areas has provided relief to nearly 11.7 lakh residents in the region, with the Bhama Askhed water supply network supplying around 157 million liters of water daily.
