The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) faced significant backlash from residents after a day-long water supply interruption for repairs extended well into the afternoon and early evening, leaving many taps dry for hours. Despite assurances from the civic administration that water would be restored by late morning, numerous areas experienced extended delays, highlighting ongoing issues in the city’s water management.
The PMC’s water supply department had preemptively announced the city-wide water shutdown on Thursday to facilitate essential repairs and maintenance of electric circuits at various water supply units. However, the prolonged delay in restoring full water flow left residents frustrated and questioning the efficiency of the repairs. Shivajinagar residents reported erratic water supply despite the onset of the monsoon. A resident from Sadashiv Peth described a week-long disruption culminating in Thursday’s shutdown and Friday’s delayed restoration. “The pressure of water in our taps was low all summer. We were expecting better supply after the arrival of rains, but there has been no considerable improvement,” he lamented.
Civic officials explained that water supply was reinstated in a phased manner, which caused some areas to receive water later than promised. “The closure was necessary to carry out repairs. We started the repairs and maintenance on Thursday, which continued till late-night. The pumping of water was restarted at all units immediately after completion of works. Repairs were carried out at Khadakwasla jackwell, new and old Parvati purification plants and overhead water tank, Pune Cantonment water works, Wadgaon water unit and Bhama Askhed jackwell,” officials stated. However, the delayed restoration has sparked criticism about the quality of the repair work. A civic activist asserted that substandard repairs and maintenance were leading to frequent issues at water supply units. “Disruptions in power supply at pumping units or breaches and leakages in water distribution lines are common reasons,” he noted, calling for a third-party audit of the repairs to identify and address deficiencies.
As Pune continues to grow and develop, addressing these infrastructural challenges with a focus on efficiency and transparency will be vital for sustaining the city’s water resources and meeting the needs of its population.
