Pune: Depleting water level in dams may trigger water cuts in Pune after May 13

Depleting water levels in the dams may lead to water cuts in Pune, once the election is over on May 13.

Water availability in the dams supplying water to Pune city is fast depleting. The Khadakwasla Dam Project comprising of four dams, namely, Khadakwasla Dam, Panshet Dam, Warasagaon Dam and Temghar Dam is now worryingly low on its water stocks.

For the past few years, Pune has been facing water cuts in some form or the other, starting from March, to stretch every drop of water to ensure water lasts, till monsoon starts replenishing the stock in the dams.

However, this year, due to Lok Sabha Elections 2024, the decision to implement water cuts was deferred until May 13.

It is highly anticipated that after May 13, once the election is over in Pune, a decision to implement water cuts will be quickly enforced.

Here is the water stock position of individual dams in Pune’s Khadakwasla dam project as on May 05, 2024:

Currently the collective storage in Khadakwasla Dam project stands at little over 25 percent and the monsoon is still over a month away as per its official date of onset over Pune.

However, the monsoon rarely becomes active in the month of June to its full potential and only around July 15, the city sees meaningful rain to replenish water stock in the dams.

This means the city must stretch its water supply for another 45 days or so before the rains start filling up the dams again.