Pune district’s delayed water-supply schemes and worsening shortages in several rural areas came under sharp scrutiny at a Zilla Parishad general meeting, after members reported that villages were going without water and that even livestock were facing shortages. Zilla Parishad president Virdhawal Jagdale directed the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran and the Zilla Parishad water-supply department to complete action and submit a report within a week.
The meeting, chaired by Jagdale on Thursday, focused on the district’s potential water shortage and the measures proposed to address it. Chief executive officer Gajanan Patil, vice-president Vivek Valse Patil, additional chief executive officer Chandrakant Waghmare and chairpersons of various subject committees attended the meeting. Officials said the water-shortage plan would be finalised and sent to the district collector.
Members raised concerns about several regional water-supply schemes whose work remains incomplete. Zilla Parishad member Tanuja Ghanwat said villages were not receiving water because work on the Kadus regional water-supply scheme had not been completed. Deepti Bhogade said incomplete Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran schemes in the Varude area of Khed taluka had intensified the shortage and created a problem for animals needing drinking water.
Group leader Shivaji Buchade drew attention to the first and second phases of the Mulshi regional water-supply scheme. Jagdale said a separate meeting would be held to examine the scheme. Smita Kanse reported that villages under a regional scheme in Junnar taluka had gone without water for eight days, while Swati Pachundkar raised the water issue in Morachi Chincholi.
Members Suvarna Darekar and Preeti Thorat highlighted shortages on the Satgaon plateau and in the eastern parts of Ambegaon taluka. Members also demanded meetings at the panchayat samiti level to jointly review works under the Jal Jeevan Mission and the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran. The demand came as the administration prepared the district’s water-shortage plan.
The meeting also identified operational problems affecting emergency repairs. Karan Khalate said vehicles were not being made available on time for hand-pump repairs, while staff and essential equipment for the work were inadequate. Group leader Vijay Shinde demanded that shortage-affected villages in Khed taluka be included in the water-shortage plan. In response, Jagdale and Patil said additional staff would be made available for repairing borewells.
Another issue involved the delayed installation of sluice gates in streams and drains. Vikram Khutwad said water was flowing away and that gram panchayats under administrators were neglecting the installation of the gates. Jagdale ordered action against gram sevaks in villages where gates had not been installed on time despite water being available in streams and drains.
The immediate administrative milestone is the report due within a week from the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran and the Zilla Parishad water-supply department. The district’s water-shortage plan is also expected to be finalised and forwarded to the district collector.
