Pune: Frequent power supply interruptions at the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) water supply centers have led to widespread water supply disruptions across the city.
The transformers installed by the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) at these centers have been malfunctioning regularly, causing pumping stations to shut down and affecting water distribution.
Despite repeated requests from PMC for permanent solutions, MSEDCL has yet to address the issue, leaving the civic body in a helpless situation.
To meet Pune's drinking water needs, PMC draws water daily from the Khadakwasla dam cluster and channels it to the main water center on Sinhagad Road.
After treatment, the water is distributed through several key water centers, including Parvati, Khadakwasla, Padmavati, Warje, Lashkar, Chatushrungi, and SNDT, supplying different parts of the city.
Heavy rains in recent days have further impacted the electricity supply, exacerbating the issue. Frequent malfunctions such as cable breaks and transformer failures have led to regular power cuts at these water centers.
As a result, pumping stations have been unable to operate, disrupting water supply to several areas and causing significant inconvenience to residents.
On Tuesday, August 27, a malfunction at one of the water centers delayed the regular water supply to the southern parts of the city, leaving residents in distress despite the rainy season and dams being filled to capacity.
PMC pays MSEDCL over ₹100 crore annually for the electricity supply to these water centers. The Water Supply Department has urged MSEDCL to conduct regular maintenance and repairs of the transformers and implement concrete measures to prevent such disruptions.
However, these requests have been consistently ignored, and no effective action has been taken, causing frustration among municipal officials. Breakdowns at key water centers have led to widespread water supply problems in various areas.
A malfunction at the Parvati water center affects central areas such as Peths, Sahakarnagar, Bibwewadi, Parvati, Taware Colony, Valvekar Nagar, Gangadham, Kondhwa, Shivajinagar, Deccan, and Katraj.
Similarly, issues at the Lashkar water center disrupt supply to Hadapsar, Mundhwa, Kharadi, Kondhwa, Wanowrie, and the Pune railway station area. Problems at the SNDT and Chatuhshrungi water centers impact Kothrud, Karvenagar, Aundh, and Pashan.
