The water crisis in Pune has hit neighborhoods like Viman Nagar and Wadgaon Sheri hard. Image by puneripages.in
By Prashant for PuneriPages.in
It’s not just you. If you live in Viman Nagar, Wadgaon Sheri, or even parts of Kalyani Nagar—you’ve probably noticed pune water crises, low pressure, or erratic supply over the past few months. I’ve been hearing these complaints in my own housing society WhatsApp group, so I decided to dig deeper and speak to locals, PMC officials, and activists to understand what’s really going on.
Table of Contents
The Ground Reality
Residents in Viman Nagar and Wadgaon Sheri are facing daily struggles with water. Some buildings get water only for an hour a day, others receive tanker water that smells funny. A resident from Shastri Nagar told me that their society had to install an extra storage tank just to manage the evening demand. What’s worse—these issues aren’t isolated. They seem to be spreading.
What PMC Is Saying (and Not Saying)
According to PMC’s public notice, pipeline repairs and the ongoing construction of a 200 MLD (Million Litres per Day) water treatment plant are causing “temporary disruptions.” But when I asked a PMC engineer (who preferred to stay unnamed), he hinted that the real problem is deeper: “We’re running behind schedule and the demand has gone way beyond what our current systems can handle.”
Is This a Shortage or Mismanagement?
Activists argue that it’s not a shortage but poor planning and mismanagement. Purva Kulkarni, a water conservation activist, told me, “Even areas near the Mula-Mutha river are facing scarcity—that should tell you this isn’t just about availability.” She pointed out outdated pipelines, illegal connections, and leaks that go unfixed for weeks. Meanwhile, PMC continues issuing new building permits without fixing the water infrastructure.
What’s the Long-Term Solution?
While PMC promises the new water treatment plant will help by early next year, locals are skeptical. In the short term, societies are spending thousands monthly on tanker water. In the long run, rainwater harvesting and decentralised water storage might be the only way out. The question remains: will PMC act before things get worse?
Conclusion:
Water is a basic right, not a luxury. What’s happening in Viman Nagar and Wadgaon Sheri is more than a temporary hiccup—it’s a warning sign for all of urban Pune. As citizens, we need to push for accountability, demand updates, and support sustainable practices in our communities.
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