With the demand for drinking water rising and the threat of water scarcity looming large, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) on Thursday announced a series of urgent measures to ensure uninterrupted supply of potable water to citizens until the arrival of monsoon.
“Considering the city’s growing population, the PCMC remains committed to supplying safe drinking water to all residents. Citizens must avoid water wastage, especially during the summer, and cooperate with the administration,” said Pradip Jambhale Patil, acting PCMC Commissioner.
Civic officials said current water reserves in the dam are only expected to last until July. Groundwater levels have dropped significantly, many borewells have dried up, and water tanker prices are soaring, officials further said, adding that inactive sewage treatment plants, rising unauthorised water connections, and the misuse of drinking water for washing vehicles, etc, were adding to the problem.
Urging citizens to use water judiciously until monsoon arrives, Ajay Suryawanshi, Joint City Engineer, PCMC, said, “Strict action will be taken against those wasting water or using it through unauthorised means.”
The population of Pimpri Chinchwad has doubled from 17 lakh in 2011 to 35 lakh today, while the increase in water supply has been only 35 per cent.
Despite this, the PCMC said, it has been consistently providing water throughout the year. However, due to unauthorised usage and high summer demand, the supply has been strained.
To address these challenges, the PCMC said that from Thursday, it would implement the following measures:
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* Strict ban on direct pumping of water from main supply lines.
* Crackdown on unauthorised water connections.
* Inspection and maintenance of rainwater harvesting systems.
* Suspension of new water connections for the next two months.
* Possibility of cutting off water supply to commercial establishments without functioning STPs.
* Ban on using potable water for washing vehicles and streets.
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PCMC officials said inspections by the water supply department are underway and action will be taken against anyone drawing water from supply lines via pumps, repeat offenders, societies and malls not using recycled water from STPs, those misusing potable water for washing vehicles and roads etc.
