As summer tightens its grip on Maharashtra, residents of Pune are growing increasingly concerned: Will the city face a water crisis this year? What's your view on Pune water csisis in 2025?
According to Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi, there’s cautious optimism. Thanks to last year’s robust monsoon, most dams were filled to capacity. Currently, the Pune division's dams hold 34.87% of their total capacity, slightly better than last year’s 30.70% on the same day. The Koyna Dam, the largest in the region, is 40.65% full, close to its previous year's levels.
Water Tanker Situation Across Pune Division
Despite the relatively healthy dam levels, 93 tankers are currently supplying water to 81 villages. Satara tops the list with 45 tanker-dependent villages, followed by Pune with 30. Over 1.39 lakh people are relying on tanker-supplied water in the region.
The Role of Heat and Evaporation in Water Loss
Experts warn that high summer temperatures and lack of pre-monsoon showers may offset the benefits of last year’s rainfall. Former IMD official Anupam Kashyapi explained that evaporation losses from reservoirs and open canals are likely to spike as temperatures soar beyond 40°C.
Farmer Insights: Surface Runoff vs Groundwater Recharge
Despite the abundance of rain last year, many farmers report declining groundwater levels. Rahul Pawar, a farmer from Daund taluka, emphasized the issue of surface runoff—where heavy rainfalls in short bursts do not allow proper percolation into the ground.
As temperatures continue to remain unusually high and groundwater continues to deplete, experts warn of potential tanker dependence in areas lacking irrigation infrastructure.
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Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/pune-water-woes-tankers-housing-societies-summer-9947996/
