Pune Municipal Corporation Seeks Chief Minister's Intervention in Water Crisis
Officials from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) have formally requested a meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to address critical water supply challenges facing the city. The urgent discussions will focus on resolving the ongoing dispute with the state irrigation department, which has demanded payment of arrears exceeding Rs 400 crore for alleged excess water usage.
Irrigation Department's Arrears Demand Deemed "Illogical"
PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram stated on Friday that the irrigation department's substantial arrears claim lacks logical foundation. The municipal administration has specifically sought time with the chief minister to comprehensively discuss all water-related matters affecting Pune's residents and infrastructure.
"We hope that the meeting will be scheduled soon," Commissioner Ram emphasized, highlighting the administration's commitment to resolving the escalating water crisis through high-level governmental intervention.
Dispute Over Water Usage Calculations
The core disagreement centers on the irrigation department's methodology for calculating arrears based on industrial water consumption. Commissioner Ram clarified that PMC primarily supplies water to residential areas with minimal industrial usage, making the department's calculations fundamentally flawed.
"The civic body supplies water to residential areas and there is hardly any usage for industrial purposes," Ram explained. "We will take up all these problems with the CM. We will also explain how the city's population has gone up considerably and we provide water to everyone, including the floating population."
Potential Water Supply Reduction Threat
Sources within the civic body revealed that the irrigation department is considering reducing water supply to Pune within the next week to pressure PMC into paying the disputed arrears. However, water supply department officials confirmed they have not received any formal warning regarding such reductions.
Nandkishor Jagtap, head of PMC's water supply department, stated: "The irrigation department wants us to pay arrears of over Rs 400 crore, but we have challenged the claim before the state water tribunal."
Water Quota Discrepancy and Population Growth
The conflict stems from significant discrepancies in water allocation. PMC annually lifts approximately 19 to 20 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water from the Khadakwalsa dam, while the irrigation department has sanctioned only 14.5 TMC for municipal use.
This allocation gap has widened following Pune's substantial population increase after incorporating 32 fringe areas into municipal jurisdiction. The civic body has officially requested revising the water quota to at least 21 TMC to accommodate this expanded population and ensure equitable water distribution.
Additional Pipeline Dispute Emerges
Complicating matters further, water supply department officials disclosed that the irrigation department recently demanded an additional Rs 10 crore for laying a water pipeline. Officials argue this demand is unjustified since the pipeline installation serves the equitable water supply scheme rather than private interests.
PMC officials expressed expectation that the irrigation department would cooperate in executing essential public works and ensuring reliable water provision to Pune's citizens, rather than creating financial obstacles.
The escalating water dispute highlights Pune's growing infrastructure challenges as the city expands, with municipal authorities seeking immediate governmental intervention to prevent potential water supply disruptions affecting millions of residents.
