The Irrigation Department has issued a notice to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to pay the dues of ₹726 crore or face water cuts starting February 25. The notice was issued to PMC on February 13 by the Khadakwasla project executive engineer, SY Kurhade.
Kurhade stated that since 2005, PMC has been taking 11.5 TMC of water from the Khadakwasla reservoir, which has led to the accumulation of ₹726 crore in dues. She added that if the payment is not made, the water supply to the city will be reduced in stages.
Irrigation Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, during a recent visit to Pune, criticized PMC's handling of the situation. He emphasized the importance of sustainable water management and urged municipal corporations to treat and reuse sewage water rather than constantly seeking additional resources from the Irrigation Department. He also noted that any further water demands should be supported by evidence of efficient water management practices.
What is the exact issue?
PMC receives water from the Khadakwasla dam. The allotted quota is 14.5 TMC, but the administration has reportedly been lifting around 18 TMC to 20 TMC of water annually. However, the civic body cited an increase in population, due to the merger of 23 villages and an increase in the floating population, as the reason for the hike in use. The civic water supply department has demanded a revision of the water quota and said it needs to be increased to at least 21 TMC.
The PMC official said that they would approach the state government and Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) to discuss the issue and modalities of payment, while seeking clarifications on the unpaid amount. Payment would be made thereafter, he added.
Activist Vivek Velankar said, "PMC and the Irrigation Department should resolve the issue. They must make sure that the city's water supply is not hampered, since citizens are already facing water scarcity."
