2 weeks Ago By Sarang Dastane
Pune: Maharashtra water resources minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil on Friday said in the state assembly session that PMC is utilising 21-22 TMC of water annually, against the stipulated approved quota of 14.5 TMC. At least 60% of this water is expected to be recycled by the civic body and released for agricultural activities in rural areas of Pune district.
Now, discussions are ongoing with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on how it can make more efforts to recycle the water and reduce excess usage for non-agricultural purposes, Patil said. The issue of inadequate water supply to rural areas from dams and PMC's increased use of water was raised by Daund Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Rahul Kul during the ongoing session. Kul said, "The additional use of water by PMC is hampering supply to agriculture, and the civic administration needs to take efforts to reduce this additional use of water.
" He added that PMC is getting water from dams located in the Khadakwasla irrigation circle (11.5 TMC) as well as from Bhama Askhed dam (3 TMC). This collective water stock of 14.
5 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) has been approved for PMC, but the usage has continued to remain above the quota. Patil, while replying to a question raised by Kul, said, "Govt is in constant talks with PMC to ensure that it recycles the maximum water and releases it for agriculture." MLAs and political leaders from rural areas of Pune have been expressing concerns about PMC's additional use of water from dams, claiming that is hampering supply to rural areas.
On the other hand, PMC has demanded that state govt increase its annual water quota , citing increased population and the merger of 34 areas into civic limits in the last few years. Sources from PMC said that there should not be a discussion at this point about reducing the city's water quota. A civic official told TOI, "The city's population has risen beyond 60 lakh and is increasing every year.
PMC has also been supplying water to merged areas and even to pockets located within a 5-10km radius from its boundaries. The city's water quota has not been revised for many years and this needs to be done and soon.".
