PMC Drafts Rigorous Water Laws to Tackle Dwindling Supply Crisis in Pune

Water crisis plaguing Pune, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is spearheading a formidable regulatory overhaul aimed at mitigating the escalating scarcity gripping the city.

The PMC’s water supply department, under the stewardship of Nand Kishore Jagtap, has meticulously crafted a comprehensive set of rules designed to address the rampant wastage and misallocation of this precious resource. The proposed regulations, which are currently awaiting final approval from the legal echelons of the civic body, are poised to impose stringent restrictions on the consumption of potable water for non-essential purposes. This encompasses a blanket prohibition on activities such as vehicle washing, gardening, and recreational pursuits like water fountains, reserving potable water exclusively for essential functions like drinking and cooking.

Furthermore, commercial enterprises, including malls and theatres, are slated to fall under the jurisdiction of the PMC, subject to strict limitations on water usage for indispensable activities such as drinking, sanitation, and infrastructure maintenance. Penalties will be levied for transgressions such as street washing, unauthorised tampering with water metres, and utilising potable water for construction endeavours. In a bid to rationalise consumption patterns, the proposed regulations also prescribe penalties for excessive usage, delineating a cap of 150 litres per capita per day. This strategic initiative comes against the backdrop of an exacerbating water crisis exacerbated by the recent expansion of PMC’s jurisdiction, encompassing 34 erstwhile villages. As policymakers underscore the finite nature of this vital resource, the imperative of instituting a robust regulatory framework to govern water consumption assumes paramount importance, heralding a paradigm shift in the city’s approach towards sustainable water management