The Pune water crisis has intensified across parts of Pune and Ahilyanagar districts, with MLA and former Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Dilip Walse Patil seeking urgent releases from the Kukadi, Dimbhe and Chaskaman reservoirs to protect standing crops and meet drinking-water needs.
Walse Patil made the demand in a letter to Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, according to a report by Sakal. He also held a direct discussion with the minister and emphasised the need for immediate action to provide relief to farmers facing water shortages.
The demand covers releases from the Kukadi project, the Hutatma Babu Genu project, also known as Dimbhe dam, and the Chaskaman dam. Walse Patil said a prolonged gap in rainfall had created a serious water-scarcity situation in Pune, Ahilyanagar and other parts of Maharashtra.
According to the report, rainfall receded after July 2026, affecting standing crops during the kharif season. Crops that had been waiting for further rain have begun to dry due to inadequate water availability. In several villages, the shortage is affecting both agricultural supply and drinking water, increasing concerns over farm losses and household access to water.
Walse Patil said the Water Resources Department should assess the seriousness of the situation and take a decision without delay. He argued that careful planning of the water available in the three projects, followed by an irrigation release, could help protect crops and provide relief to affected farmers.
The issue also highlights the competing demands placed on reservoir systems in a period of uneven rainfall. Water stored in dams must serve agricultural users while also supporting drinking-water requirements in rural settlements. Decisions on releases therefore involve the Water Resources Department, local administrations and communities dependent on the projects.
The report did not specify the quantity of water sought, the proposed release schedule, the current storage levels of the three reservoirs or the villages expected to receive water. It also did not indicate whether the department had formally approved a release or announced an operational plan.
Walse Patil said agriculture and farmers form the backbone of the rural economy and that farmers should not be left without support during the current shortage. He called for a prompt administrative decision to prevent crop damage and address drinking-water concerns in rural areas.
