Pune’s newly merged villages are experiencing a significant spike in water tanker demand during the monsoon season, surpassing even the peak summer months. From June to August, a total of 124,624 water tanker trips were recorded for these areas, exceeding the 123,091 trips documented from March to May this year. This increase underscores a pressing issue in Pune’s water management and infrastructure.
According to data from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), the number of water tanker trips has been consistently high during the monsoon. Specifically, 40,732 trips were made in June, 42,220 in July, and 41,672 in August. In contrast, the pre-monsoon months of March, April, and May saw 38,299, 41,603, and 43,189 trips respectively.
Officials attribute the heightened demand to the rapid development of residential projects in the newly merged villages. The current gram panchayat water supply system, which was designed for smaller populations, is proving inadequate to support the burgeoning needs of these areas. The pace of new construction has exacerbated the problem, as the infrastructure has not kept pace with the influx of new residents. Chief of the PMC water supply department, [Name], stated, “There is a very high demand for water tankers in the area, and PMC is working to meet this need. We currently need between 33,000 and 34,000 trips per month, but we are handling between 42,000 and 43,000.” Despite the full city dams and the release of 28 TMC of water into the Mutha canal, the demand for tankers continues to rise.
Critics, including [Name], director of the NIBM Annexe Forum, argue that this surge in tanker demand reflects a failure of PMC to provide reliable water supply to residential areas over the past two decades. They claim that this shortfall has fostered a water supply lobby that profits from the crisis. Additionally, [Name], president of the Anandvan Parisar Resident Foundation (APRF), highlighted that many societies rely on tankers due to the lack of direct PMC water supply, accusing the PMC of neglecting these areas. The ongoing crisis highlights the urgent need for improved water infrastructure and more effective management strategies to address the growing demands of Pune’s expanding residential sectors.
