City gears up to tackle dry spell

PMC may impose 50 per cent water cut owing to delayed rain

Taking note of the delayed monsoon this year, the city is gearing up for dry days ahead. The PMC is considering 50 per cent water cut in the city. In case of emergency, only hospitals and maternity homes will be given priority and supplied with additional water.

"We will provide water to hospitals and maternity homes through tankers. We can't promise the hotels though," said Vijay Kulkarni, Development Engineer, and Water Supply PMC.

A joint meeting with PMC and Irrigation department has been organised today.

Dr Arvind Shinde, President, Pune Obstetric & Gynecological Society said, "For the first time, Pune is likely to face water scarcity. Maternity and surgical nursing homes require lot of water. We are relieved PMC is ready to provide tankers."

However, doctors are concerned with the quality of water also.

Dr Sharad Agarkhedkar, President, Indian Medical Association said, "The tanker water may be contaminated. We need to distil or sterilise the water for washing hands. So, operations may get delayed."

Officials in the irrigation department said they were prepared for the worst.u00a0

"We are aware of the current crisis. We have to be prepared for all eventualities," said Avinash Surve, Superintendent Engineer, Pune Irrigation Circle.

IMD Pune said that it can only predict rainfall for the next two to three days and there would be no major improvement in monsoon owing to absence of low pressure in Bay of Bengal.

"There will be some improvement in the rainfall in the next few days, but we can't quantify it," said Dr A B Muzumdar, Deputy Director General, IMD, Pune.