Mayor orders 24-hour water control rooms in all 15 Pune ward offices to curb leakage and theft

Pune, October 30, 2026: With the city likely to face a water shortage, Mayor Manjusha Nagpure has issued important directions to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). To monitor water supply closely, stop leakage and curb water theft, separate control rooms for water scarcity and disaster management are to be set up in all 15 ward offices of the civic body.

Officials and staff of the water supply, health and disaster management departments will work in these control rooms around the clock, day and night. They have also been instructed to resolve citizens' complaints about water supply, leakage and tanker demand within 24 hours.

Noting that the dams supplying water to the city hold limited stocks, Nagpure has told the civic administration to take immediate steps to save every drop of water.

Each ward office is to run a 24-hour helpline and a WhatsApp-based grievance redressal system. Special teams will be deployed to detect leaks in main water lines, the distribution network and water tanks. The administration has been told to take strict action against unauthorised tap connections and water theft.

The Mayor has also demanded restrictions on the use of drinking water for washing vehicles, private construction, swimming pools, gardens and cleaning roads. The orders say violators should be fined and their water supply cut off.

The administration has also been told that the civic body should provide free water tankers in scarcity-hit areas, keep a check on the rates charged by private tanker operators and not allow black-marketing of water.

Nagpure has directed officials to ensure equal and adequate water supply everywhere, including colonies at the far edges of the city. The administration has been asked to submit a detailed report on action taken on all these measures to the Mayor's office within three days.