Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has made an official request to the irrigation department for the approval of a 34.71 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic Feet) water quota, anticipating the growing water needs of the city over the next 30 years.
With the recent expansion of the city’s boundaries and the inclusion of 34 new villages, the population of Pune is increasing rapidly. However, the existing water supply from the Khadakwasla Dam Project, Bhama Askhed Dam, and Pavana Dam, which totals 16.36 TMC, is proving to be insufficient for the rising demand.
Currently, more than 21 TMC of water is required annually to serve the 7.2 million people living within the old city limits and the newly incorporated villages.
The PMC has acknowledged that it is unable to provide a direct water supply to these newly added areas, leaving them dependent on local water sources and tanker services.
With ongoing large-scale construction activities in these regions, the demand for water is expected to surge in the coming years.
To address these concerns, the PMC has already initiated plans to ensure water supply to the newly included villages. Consultants have been appointed to prepare water supply plans, and projects in Lohgaon-Wagholi, Sus, Mhalunge, and Bavdhan have already received approval.
The planning process for other areas is currently underway, with projections extending over the next 30 years.
Despite these efforts, the PMC lacks sufficient water reserves to implement the proposed plans. In a letter to the irrigation department, the PMC emphasized the need for an additional water supply of 34.71 TMC to meet future demand.
The letter also outlined the anticipated water requirements based on projected population growth in the newly added villages, estimating a need for 7.75 TMC by 2037 and 11.5 TMC by 2052.
The current water quota allocated to Pune is inadequate for carrying out water supply projects in the newly incorporated villages.
The PMC has also requested an additional 5 TMC from the Mulshi Dam to meet the future water demands, but no decision has been made on this request so far.
Based on population growth estimates, the PMC has projected that by 2027, Pune’s population will reach 10.74 million, requiring 27.17 TMC of water. By 2052, this number is expected to grow to 13.68 million, necessitating a water supply of 34.17 TMC.
