Pimpri Chinchwad is grappling with a severe water crisis as the water levels in the Andra dam have witnessed a significant decline in recent days. The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s (PCMC) water supply department is reporting a reduction in water supply from the irrigation department, attributing the drop in the dam’s water level to decreased rainfall last year.
Areas such as Charholi, Dudulgaon, Wadmukhwadi, Borhadewadi, and some parts of Bhosari are among those directly affected by the crisis. While the remaining parts of the city receive water supply from the Pavana dam, the situation remains critical in the areas reliant on Andra dam.
Shrikant Savane, Chief Engineer of the water supply department of PCMC, expressed concerns over the diminishing water supply, stating, “In the past, we received 75 MLD water daily, but now the influx is only 45-50 MLD. We are in talks with irrigation department officials and hope the problem is solved soon. At present, we have enough water in the dams.”
Irrigation department officials acknowledged the situation and urged PCMC to use water judiciously. A senior officer from the irrigation department explained, “Since rainfall was scanty this year, we have prepared a plan to ensure stored water lasts till the monsoon begins. Many villages apart from PCMC are dependent on water from Andra dam.”
Residents in affected areas are already feeling the impact of the crisis, with some resorting to hiring water tankers to meet their daily water requirements. Anand Chaudhary from Jadhavwadi shared his concerns, stating, “We have started hiring water tankers for the last 20 days to fulfill our demand.” Rohit Gaikwad, a resident of Chikhali, echoed the worry, saying, “We are worried about the summer.”
