Pune's water use falls only 20-25 MLD over Diwali despite many leaving for villages

Pune, November 14, 2026: Thousands of people went back to their villages and homes during the Diwali holidays, easing traffic in the city. The effect on water consumption, however, was small. According to Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) data, the city's daily consumption fell by only 20 to 25 million litres per day (MLD) during the festival.

Pune has expanded rapidly over the past several years. People have kept coming from outside to settle here for jobs, education and business opportunities. As the population has grown, so has the demand for water, and the municipal administration has repeatedly asked the state government and the irrigation department for a larger water quota.

The city's rising demand is often blamed on the population that comes in from outside. This Diwali, though, a large number of people went to their villages, yet the fall in water consumption was marginal.

According to PMC data, on the first day of Diwali, November 5, the corporation drew about 1,718 MLD of water. On November 6, Dhanteras, it was 1,700 MLD. The daily drawal was then 1,688 MLD on November 7, 1,682 MLD on November 8, 1,698 MLD on November 9, 1,697 MLD on November 10 and 1,692 MLD on November 11.

Thus, through the whole week the daily drawal stayed between 1,682 and 1,718 MLD. The gap between the highest and lowest figures is not large either.

Corporation officials said consumption did not fall sharply, but water pressure in the distribution network was better during the holidays. Complaints of inadequate water dropped quickly and stopped altogether in many areas. According to the officials, even localities where it was earlier difficult to deliver enough water began receiving it during this period.