Demand for water tankers continues to rise in Pune div

PUNE: Pune region has seen a massive rise in the demand for water tankers in the last 10 days as the supply of water tankers increased from 300 to 400. 

While there are 80 water tankers operational in Pune district, the situation in Solapur, Satara, and Sangli districts appears grim as the number of water tankers operational in Satara is 100, Solapur is 113 and Sangli is 108. 

Pune, Solapur, Sangli, Satara and Kolhapur are classified under the Pune region. While there is a demand for tankers from other districts, there is no demand from Kolhapur yet.

While officials are yet to take a decision on water cuts in the city, the water storage level in four dams of Khadakwasla project, which supply water to the city, has reached to 10.74 TMC as compared to 15.04 TMC last year.

Following the drought situation in Pune, the demand for water tankers has increased from 74 to 80 in the last 10 days. 

The State had earlier announced drought in 151 talukas and 318 revenue circles as drought prone. Of which, 7 talukas fall in Pune district.

With the rise in the temperature, officials are expecting that the demand will further rise from 80 to 150 in a few weeks and are hoping for a timely monsoon. 

Officials of the Administration Department said that the tanker facility was started by the administration from December, following the shortage of water due to low rainfall last season. 

Officials said that in February, there were around 200 water tankers operating in Pune division and now, the number has shot up to 400 in a month and the demands are increasing on a daily basis. 

The PMC is currently lifting 1,350 MLD water as against 1,150 MLD as advised by the State Irrigation Department.