No Additional Water Cut In Pune Until Canal Committee Meeting, Says Mayor Manjusha Nagpure
Pune will not face an additional water cut for now. The mayor said the existing cut continues until the canal committee decides the city’s water allocation.
Photo: Advaitk at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pune, 29th October 2026: Pune will not face any additional water cut for now. Mayor Manjusha Nagpure has directed officials to continue the existing water curtailment, and said no decision on a bigger cut will be taken until the canal committee meets to decide the city’s water allocation from the Khadakwasla dam system.
Pune water cut: what we know
- Current arrangement: The existing cut continues. Water supply is suspended across the city on Thursdays.
- Proposal: The water resources (irrigation) department has proposed a 20% cut in water use from the Khadakwasla dam system.
- Next step: The canal committee meeting, chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, will decide the allocation. A meeting was expected on Monday.
- Allocation dispute: PMC sought 21 TMC of water. The irrigation department approved 11.33 TMC, compared with 16 TMC supplied last year.
Why a bigger cut is being discussed
Parts of Pune district are facing drought-like conditions after a weaker monsoon. In mid-October, the Pune district administration said it was considering a 20% cut for the Khadakwasla system and a 10% cut for the Pavana dam, which supplies Pimpri-Chinchwad, so that stocks last until the next monsoon. At the time, District Collector Jitendra Dudi said Khadakwasla was about 88% full and Pavana about 95% full.
The administration also said water tankers were running in drought-hit talukas such as Baramati, Indapur and Daund, and that rabi irrigation rotations would prioritise fodder crops.
Citizens’ group says the current cut is enough
The civic group Sajag Nagrik Manch has opposed any increase. Its president, Vivek Velankar, argued that the Khadakwasla system had about 25.66 TMC of water on October 15, 2026. By the group’s estimate, Pune needs about 15 TMC until August 31, 2027 if the Thursday shutdown continues. That would leave water for irrigation, evaporation losses and other needs.
The group has also asked PMC to publish a white paper on the Equal Water Supply Scheme, on which it says about ₹2,000 crore has been spent over five years, to show how much leakage has actually been reduced.
Reports differ slightly on the size of the current cut. Some describe it as about 10% and others as about 13%, depending on how the Thursday shutdown is calculated.
What it means for residents
- For now, there is no change to your water schedule beyond the existing weekly shutdown.
- If the canal committee approves a larger cut, PMC is expected to announce a revised, area-wise schedule.
- Store water sensibly before shutdown days, and report leaks to PMC.
Water-saving tips for Pune homes
- Fix dripping taps and overflowing tanks. Small leaks waste hundreds of litres a week.
- Use a bucket instead of a hose to wash vehicles.
- Reuse RO reject water for mopping and plants.
- Housing societies can check that pumps and tanks are not overflowing, and consider rainwater harvesting before the next monsoon.
In Pimpri-Chinchwad, PCMC has also started inspections against illegal water extraction using motor pumps. Follow Pimpri-Chinchwad news for updates.
This is a developing story. We will update this article after the canal committee meeting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a new water cut in Pune?
Not yet. The mayor has said the existing cut will continue and no extra cut will be decided before the canal committee meeting.
Which day is water supply off in Pune?
Under the current arrangement, water supply is suspended on Thursdays.
Who decides Pune’s water allocation?
The canal committee, chaired by the Deputy Chief Minister, decides how water from the Khadakwasla dam system is shared between the city, irrigation and other uses.
