Pune Municipal Corporation has suspended its weekly Thursday water shutdown during the Diwali period, allowing households across the city to receive uninterrupted water supply on the day when demand is expected to rise for cleaning, cooking and hosting guests.
The relaxation was announced by PMC Standing Committee Chairman Shrinath Bhimale. The civic body will continue supplying water on Thursdays during the festive period instead of implementing its regular weekly interruption.
The decision comes as families prepare for Diwali, when household water requirements typically increase. Home cleaning, food preparation, shopping-related activity and visits from relatives can add to normal daily consumption. A scheduled citywide interruption could therefore have created additional pressure for residents making arrangements for the festival.
The weekly Thursday shutdown had been introduced as a water conservation measure amid concerns about the water stored in Pune’s dams and the need to manage supplies for the months ahead. The PMC’s decision to suspend the cut temporarily does not amount to a withdrawal of its broader conservation approach, according to the report.
Instead, the civic administration has adjusted the supply schedule for the festive period while retaining the wider objective of managing available water resources. The measure is expected to benefit households across the city, particularly those preparing traditional Diwali food or accommodating visiting family members.
The announcement provides immediate clarity to residents who would otherwise have had to plan around the regular Thursday interruption. However, the supplied information does not specify the exact date on which the weekly shutdown will resume after Diwali, or whether the civic body will issue a revised schedule for the post-festival period.
For now, regular Thursday water supply will continue during the Diwali period. The PMC’s conservation measures and management of stored water remain in place as the administration balances festive demand with supply planning for the coming months.
