Pune: Pimpri Chinchwad mayor Ravi Landge has directed the civic administration to draft a ‘summer action plan’ to ensure adequate water supply until the monsoon, highlighting demand surge and drop in groundwater levels after March.Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) started supplying alternate-day water to the residents in 2019, citing allocation shortage and rapid population growth. The civic body gets 530 MLD water from Pavana, its main source of supply, and 100 MLD from Andra dam, followed by MIDC (30 MLD).Addressing complaints about low water pressure, Landge said the issue was a major contributor to shortage. “Even if water is supplied for one-and-a-half hours, instead of the current two to two-and-a-half hours, the pressure must be adequate,” he told TOI.He said rapidly developing areas like Chikhali, Charholi, Moshi, Ravet and Kiwale were among the worst affected due to a surge in residential projects and limited water sources. “Civic officials have been asked to arrange water tankers in places where builders are unable to provide supply,” the mayor said.Earlier this week, PCMC warned developers of action if they failed to supply water to housing societies despite submitting undertakings to do so until the civic body could ensure full supply. The corporation said it could not provide 100% water coverage till ongoing projects, including the Bhama Askhed scheme with a capacity of 167 MLD, were completed.Landge also directed the officials to intensify efforts to curb leakage and take strict action against illegal water connections.According to PCMC data, the population in the city is likely to have crossed 30 lakh, requiring at least 720-750 MLD water. Civic officials said the city’s population was rising at an average of 7% annually. “The population is likely to reach 51 lakh by 2031 and 96 lakh by 2041, as per the current growth rate. To meet the demand from rising population, the municipal body is seeking additional allocation of water from Mulshi dam. But govt is yet to take any decision on it,” an official said.
