Pune may get only 7 TMC water till June 30, 2027; alternate-day supply likely after Diwali

The canal advisory committee has reportedly decided that Pune city will get only 7 TMC of water until June 30, 2027. If this happens, the city's water supply schedule could become stricter.

Notably, the Khadakwasla dam system has an estimated 24 TMC of water available. Despite this, the city's share is reported to be this low, and residents are worried about how much water will actually reach the city in the coming months.

The proposed share could affect more than 6.5 million people. It will also put additional pressure on the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), which is already considering supplying water on alternate days after Diwali.

Under the reported distribution plan, about 17 TMC of the available water could be set aside for other needs. These include agricultural use, drinking water needs in downstream areas, water lost to evaporation and losses during distribution. On this basis, Pune would be left with a much smaller share to meet the city's needs until the end of the current water year.

The first challenge before the PMC will be how to distribute the 7 TMC across the whole city while keeping basic household supply going. The administration may introduce a rotation system after Diwali, in which different parts of the city get water on alternate days.

If that happens, the daily routine of people in residential areas could be affected, especially as the city moves towards the summer months. The PMC will have to study the pattern of water consumption and plan the distribution carefully to stretch the available stock as far as possible.

Following the decision, questions are also being raised about the city's representation in regional water planning meetings. Some ministers and MLAs who could have put forward Pune's needs were reportedly absent from the canal committee meeting. Those who attended are also being asked about their response to the proposed share.

Water availability is not only a household concern for Pune. The corporation's budget includes several large infrastructure projects, among them the High Capacity Mass Transit Route (HCMTR) and flyover works. The apprehension of limited water supply has added another dimension to the discussion on the city's civic priorities and long-term development.