Pune news links about water, live water, dead water, no water, 9 clouds and a few birds

1) Water supply on alternate days in Pune from today, 3rd July '09:

The four dams that supply water to Pune are left with a mere 0.50 TMC (2% of total capacity) of live water storage in the absence of rain in the catchment areas.

The irrigation department is exploring the possibility of using dead stock of water in the Khadakwasla, Panshet, Varasgaon and Temghar dams if it does not rain till July 15.

Dead water in dams is a reserve that is kept for emergencies. The four dams have a total of 0.75 TMC of dead stock of water.
The Times of India

2) Impose uniform water cuts in the city:

Because of the saucer-like topography of the city the mid parts of the city get ample water while the fringe areas are left dry.

"We will ensure that the areas which are already getting less water supply do not suffer further because of the recent water cuts. The PMC will impose cuts in areas which are still receiving excessive water," said Municipal commissioner Mahesh Zagade.Read More

3) From Monday, 6th July, 20% water cut in PCMC limits:

Giving details of measures to be taken to tackle the situation, Sharma said, "There are 745 borewells in the municipal limits out of which 474 are operational. A rapid drive will be conducted to operationalise the non-operational borewells.

If the situation turns worse, we will try to operationalise the old water systems in the villages.

We will also sink new borewells after identifying suitable spots.

Water supply to new constructions would be stopped and no new water connections will be given to people."

Sharma stated that the civic body has prepared a timetable for water supply to each ward in the municipal limits. "We will not effect the cut in areas like Sangvi, Dapodi and Dighi that are already receiving less water.

We will reduce supply to areas like Pradhikaran that are receiving supply two times a day," said Sharma.

Pravin Tupe, joint city engineer, said, "The PCMC lifts 367 million litres per day (MLD) water everyday from the Pavana river. This water is treated and supplied to the residents of Pimpri-Chinchwad. We will lift only 294 MLD water from the river after the cut is implemented." Read More

4) Just 7% live storage in dams across state:

State water resources minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday said that the state is facing acute shortage of drinking water due to depleted water storage at dams.

"All the dams in the state have on an average only 7 per cent live water storage at present. This is the worst situation in last three years. During the same period, the dams were holding 13% and 20% live water storage in year 2008 and 2007 respectively," said Pawar. Read More

5) Birds of Bhigwan by Vivek Kale:

However, Ujni (Bhigwan) is unique. There are no hills around here. Other Maharashtra dams do not host birds due to very high water depth and clean water. The Ujni backwater is shallow and spread out in vast area.

The discharge of water from Pune region dams such as Panshet, Pawna, Khadakwasla, Varasgaon, Temghar, etc flows to Ujni after passing through Pune City.

The semiwaste water in this Ujni dam backwater area has built very good wetland based ecosystem and helped agriculture also. Last couple of years, it has rained above average in Western Maharashtra. This has ensured sufficient water level in Ujni even in late summer.

So one can see flamingos here even in mid summer. In this blog I have mainly covered images from Diksal area. Click to View

6) Good rain expected for couple of days:

Faced with water cuts up to 30 per cent, the city got a bit of respite on Thursday with a few spells of rains in all areas. This phase is expected to continue for a couple of days. Till 5.30 pm city had recorded 2 mm rainfall.

"The conditions are favourable (for rainfall). We expect monsoon to show its presence in city and nearby areas for next couple days or more," said A B Mazumdar, Deputy Director General Meteorology (DDGM), India Meteorological Department (IMD), adding, "intensity may vary, but we will have showers." Read More

7) Pune reels under water cuts:

Even as Puneites brace themselves for 40 per cent water cut from Friday, most areas in the city have started feeling the heat of water shortage.

An Exceptional Story of Cloud 9!

Nitin Pandya, an ad hoc committee member (?) of the Cloud 9 society in the vicinity of Mohammedwadi pointed out that since their society didn't get any water from the civic body in the first place, (?) the water cut hasn't affected them much. "Our society requires between 30 to 35 tankers per day," he said.

To read about water shortage in Kothrud, Bhusari Colony, Taware colony, Shivdarshan, Taljai areas, Aundh, Baner, Pashan, NIBM road, Kondhwa, Wadgaonsheri, Chadannagar, Vimannagar, Kalyaninagar, please, click here.

8) Availability of tankers:

Of 30 lakh population of Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) jurisdiction, about 5 lakh stay in areas like Wadgaonsheri, Chandannagar, Mundhwa, NIBM, Kodhwa, Phursungi, Hadapsar, Vimannagar, Dhanori. These areas face acute water shortage.

250-300 PMC tankers have been supplying water to these areas.

The quantity of water is almost 25 to 30 lakh litres for more than 5 lakh people living in these areas.

One tanker supplies 10,000 litres.

The rest of Pune may soon follow suit. Read More

9) Water Supply in Pune - government.wikia.com:

10) Civic activist Vivek Velankar criticises PMC for wasting power, money:

Civic activist Vivek Velankar has criticised the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for wasting nearly Rs 38 lakh per year and huge quantity of energy by under-utilizing the Bhairoba nullah sewage pumping station. Read More

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