Pune civic body restores daily water supply ahead of palkhi processions, to review water cuts after July 12

Pune: The civic administration on Tuesday resumed daily water supply across the city, suspending the alternate-day supply schedule that had been in force since June 15 until the weekend (July 12).The restoration of daily supply is expected to bring relief to citizens who have been grappling with severe water shortages.The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) suspended the water cuts to avoid inconvenience to the thousands of warkaris expected to arrive in the city over the next three days for the annual palkhi processions. The PMC’s water supply department, however, said a decision on whether to reimpose the alternate-day schedule will be taken after reviewing water levels in the dams on July 12, a day after the palkhi processions leave for Pandharpur.Sources in the civic administration said the city is unlikely to face water cuts again, given the significant rise in dam storage over the past four days. However, a final decision is expected next week.Pune mayor Manjusha Nagpure said thousands of warkaris visit Pune every year for the palkhi processions. “This year, the turnout is expected to be higher after state govt appealed to warkaris to join the processions from Pune due to heavy rainfall in other parts of the state,” she said.

She further said the civic body is making all necessary arrangements, including ensuring uninterrupted water supply. “Water cuts will remain suspended until the weekend. Adequate water tankers will be deployed at the halt locations of the warkaris. A review of dam storage will be conducted around July 12 to decide the future water supply plan,” Nagpure said.Meanwhile, the civic body’s water supply department has directed executive engineers from all five zones and their teams to restore the earlier daily water supply schedule in their respective areas.“We are reverting to the previous water supply schedule. Teams have been instructed to ensure that supply timings are maintained properly. We will review feedback over the next 24 hours to assess how the restored daily supply is functioning,” an official from the water supply department said.The alternate-day water supply schedule had faced several challenges, with residents receiving water at low pressure and for shorter durations.

Following numerous complaints, the civic administration revised supply timings in some areas to better meet residents’ needs.PMC declares holiday for 101 civic-run schools for palkhi arrangementsPMC has declared a holiday for 101 civic-run schools until July 12, as the school premises will be used to set up accommodation camps for warkaris participating in the annual palkhi processions.The civic administration said elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure the smooth conduct of the processions. PMC is providing basic amenities to the pilgrims, while additional staff have been deployed to clean roads and maintain hygiene along the palkhi routes.The palkhi of Sant Tukaram Maharaj will enter the city via the old Pune-Mumbai Road, while the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj palkhi will arrive through Alandi Road. Both processions will reach Pune on Thursday.