PCMC faces rising water expenses, paying over ₹100 crore annually due to increased water usage and rates. Disputes with the Water Resources Department and insufficient revenue add to financial strain.
Pune, April 21, 2025: Water is supplied to Pimpri- Chinchwad megacity from Maval’s Pavana Dam. For this, Pimpri- Chinchwad Municipal Corporation pays crores of rupees as freights every time to the Water coffers Department. This figure is increased by 10 percent every time by the Water resource Department. In the coming time, due to the water of these three heads, Pavana, Andhra and Bhama Asakhed, being reserved, the Municipal Corporation will have to pay further than 100 crores to the Water resource Department. In such a situation, the Municipal Corporation will have to spend a huge quantum on the water force, sanctification and distribution system which is getting precious.
In the last 4 times, the quantum given to the Water resource Department has increased 3 times. 640 MLD water is supplied every day A aggregate of 640 MLD water is supplied to half of the megacity every day, including 510 from the megacity’s Pavana Dam, 100 MLD from Andhra Dam and 30 from MIDC. Also, 167 MLD water of the Municipal Corporation is reserved in Bhama Asakhed Dam. The scheme for this water has not started yet.
The population of the megacity has crossed 30 lakhs. thus, there’s a fear of serious water deficit in the megacity. For the last 6 years, water is being supplied in the megacity at an interval of one day. The complaints of the citizens about inadequate water force in the peak summer have increased. The External Corporation has to spend a huge quantum for normal water force. The External Corporation administration isn’t suitable to muster the courage to increase the water rates. Thus, the water force department is facing a situation of being punched by covering its mouth. Whereas the Water resources Department is adding the freights by 10 percent every time. Due to this, further pressure is adding on the Municipal Corporation’s storeroom.
Expenditure is further than income. Compared to the share approved by the Municipal Corporation, about 100 MLD more water is lifted from Pavana Dam. This rate is Rs 2.20 per thousand liters. By holding the penalty quantum, the corporation has to pay a bill of 75 crores to the Water coffers Department every time. 30 MLD of pure water is bought every day by the pot MIDC. Its rate is also high. The expenditure is high. The water force department of the Municipal Corporation has earned an income of 76 crores 41 lakh rupees from water duty in the fiscal time 2024- 25. With this income, the Municipal Corporation has to handle the work of water sanctification and water force ministry of the megacity.
100 MLD water from Andhra Dam of Maval taluka and 167 MLD water from Bhama- Asakhed of Khed taluka have been reserved for the Municipal Corporation For this, the Municipal Corporation has given Rs 279 crore to the Water coffers Department as recuperation expenditure in 5 times. At present, water is being lifted from Indrayani River levee of Nighoje from Andhra Dam. After starting lifting water from these three heads, Pavana, Andhra and Abha Asakhed, the External pot will have to pay the bill at the rate of 1 rupee 10 paise for 1000 liters. thus, due to increased charges, the External pot will have to spend about 100 crores every time for water.
External pot lifts water from Pavana and Andhra heads. This time, a figure of 60 crores 96 lakh rupees is being paid to the Water resource Department, MIDC water is n’t included in this. There’s a disagreement between the External pot and the Water coffers Department regarding artificial and domestic use. The External pot does n’t use water for industrialization. thus, the External pot has demanded to charge the water bill at the domestic rate. But it is n’t getting a response. This information has been given by Pramod Onbhase, Chief mastermind of the Water Supply Department of the External pot.
There’s a disagreement between the Water resource Department and the External pot regarding the water rate. The Water coffers Department is charging artificial rates for the water given to the megacity. Also, the habituated water isn’t being treated as drainage water and isn’t being released into the swash. Penalties are being levied for this due to heavy swash pollution.