With summer just beginning, the Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been forced to ration water due to a dip in supply from its sources. To manage the shortage, the civic body has introduced a one-day-per-week water cut, effective this week.
According to an official from PMC’s Water Supply Department, the decision was necessary to ensure water availability until June 15, by which time the monsoon is expected to arrive.
PMC primarily sources its water from the Dehrang Dam, along with supplies from Maharashtra Jal Pradhikaran (MJP) and the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). However, the water level in Dehrang Dam has dropped due to increased withdrawals, making it insufficient to last until the monsoon. As a result, the civic body has implemented area-wise water cuts, with different localities experiencing a one-day supply disruption each week.
Vilas Chavan, Deputy Engineer at PMC’s Water Supply Department, explained that water supply from the Patalganga River decreases on Sundays and Mondays. Additionally, frequent power shutdowns and technical breakdowns often disrupt supply from MJP and MIDC. To compensate, PMC has been drawing larger quantities from Dehrang Dam, further depleting its reserves.
PMC requires approximately 30 million liters per day (MLD) to meet demand. Of this, 16 MLD is drawn from Dehrang Dam, while the remaining supply comes from MIDC and MJP.
Panvel Water Cut Schedule: Affected Areas
Friday: Areas served by the Gol Water Treatment Plant
Saturday: Areas under the Gangaram Theatre ESR
Monday: Market Yard and Chaukani WTP areas
Tuesday: Patel Mohalla and Pioneer ESRs
Wednesday: HOC ESR areas
Thursday: Thana Naka ESR
Meanwhile, the civic body has appealed to residents to plan accordingly and use water judiciously during this period of rationing.