Pune: The civic administration completed crucial repairs and maintenance on various water supply units’ electric circuits on Friday morning. However, residents reported that the water flow was not fully restored until late afternoon or early evening, despite assurances from the authorities of an earlier resolution.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had planned these repairs following a series of unexpected power failures at water supply units, which had severely impacted pumping activities. The most recent fault occurred last week, just before the palkhi processions arrived in the city. To facilitate the necessary repairs, the PMC’s water supply department announced a day-long water closure across most parts of the city on Thursday. Although the administration assured residents that the supply would be restored by late morning, many citizens experienced delays until the evening. This led to widespread frustration and questions about the efficiency of the repair process.
Residents in Shivajinagar expressed their discontent over the erratic water supply, which persisted despite the onset of the monsoon. A resident from Sadashiv Peth highlighted that his locality had faced disruptions throughout the past week, compounded by the day-long closure on Thursday and the delayed restoration on Friday. “The water pressure in our taps was low all summer. We expected an improvement with the rains, but there has been no significant change,” he lamented. Civic officials explained that the water supply was restored in a phased manner, resulting in some areas receiving water later than anticipated. An official stated, “The closure was essential for the repairs. We commenced the repairs and maintenance on Thursday, continuing until late at night. Water pumping resumed at all units immediately after the completion of works.” The repairs included the Khadakwasla jackwell, the new and old Parvati purification plants, overhead water tanks, Pune Cantonment water works, Wadgaon water unit, and Bhama Askhed jackwell.
However, civic activists have criticised the PMC for the recurring issues, attributing them to substandard repairs and maintenance. One activist claimed, “Frequent disruptions in power supply at pumping units or breaches and leakages in water distribution lines are common problems. The PMC needs to conduct a third-party audit of the repairs to identify and address these issues.” The recent events underscore the need for more efficient and reliable water management strategies to prevent such disruptions and ensure a consistent water supply to Pune’s residents.
