Pune: Despite the Pavana and Andra dams being filled to capacity, Pimpri-Chinchwad residents will continue to receive water on alternate days, as they have for the past five years.
The city's water supply infrastructure has not kept pace with its rapidly growing population, which has nearly doubled in the last fifteen years.
Efforts to upgrade the system, including new water pipelines and the Bhama-Aaskhed water project, have been slow, forcing the municipal corporation to maintain the current rationing system.
The city's water supply primarily comes from the Pavana Dam, but to meet the growing demand, the government has also sanctioned an additional quota of 100 MLD from the Andra Dam and 167 MLD from the Bham-Aaskhed Dam.
However, despite the increased water availability, the uneven geography of the city has made it difficult to ensure consistent water distribution across all areas. Some neighborhoods, particularly those at higher elevations, still struggle with low water pressure and inadequate supply.
The decision to implement alternate-day water supply was made in November 2019 by the then-Municipal Commissioner Shravan Hardikar, in response to these challenges.
While this measure has significantly reduced water-related complaints, it remains in effect as the city continues to grapple with its water distribution issues.
Chief Engineer Srikant Savane of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation noted that the dams’ storage capacities are unchanged despite being full, and with the city's population having doubled, the demand for water has increased accordingly.
He confirmed that the alternate-day water supply will remain in place until the necessary infrastructure upgrades are completed.
