Puneites brace for 30% water cut as monsoon plays truant

A 30 per cent water cut and an alternate day water supply schedule effective from September 7 was announced here today by Pune district's guardian minister Girish Bapat, after water storage in dams around the city dipped to 50 per cent capacity due to lack of rains.
Incidentally, the four dams which supply Pune with water are Khadakwasla, Panshet, Varasgaon and Temghar.
After meeting civic officials here, Bapat said that Central Maharashtra had received about 40 per cent less rainfall so far, which has necessitated the water cut, because existing water storage capacity is expected to cater to water requirement for the next eleven months in case poor rainfall continued in September.

Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Commissioner Kunal Kumar said the water cut will be reviewed periodically taking into account rainfall in the coming days.
The minister said that a relaxation in water cut could be considered during the forthcoming Ganesh festival.