Broken Pipeline Causes Water Disruption At Pune Airport

A damaged water pipeline in Ravet has disrupted the water supply to Pune Airport, leading to a reliance on water tanker deliveries this Tuesday and Wednesday. Pune Airport, which has been handling an increasing number of passengers — reaching 94.59 lakh in 2023 compared to 69.26 lakh in 2022 — found itself in a tough spot due to this supply issue during the peak summer season.

In response to the crisis, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has dispatched between 15 and 20 tankers to the airport to help cope with the demand, although some travellers reported a shortage of water. The problem began when a critical pipeline burst in Ravet, which forced the water supply department to stop services to repair the damage. The repair team was able to fix the leak by Wednesday just after midnight, according to Indrabhan Ranadive, the superintendent engineer.

The water situation in Pune has been critical, especially after lower-than-expected rainfall last year resulted in decreased water levels in Khadakwasla dam, the main water source for the city. This scarcity led to a broader water crisis in the area. In addition to the pipeline burst near the airport, another significant leak occurred near Saras Baug, wasting about seven to eight lakh litres of water each day. Unfortunately, repairs for this have been postponed due to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, further complicating the situation for residents who continue to face water supply interruptions.

A recent meeting of the canal committee highlighted a reduction of 50 million litres per day in water allocation to the municipal corporation from the water resources department, exacerbating the crisis. Authorities are now urging water conservation and efficient management to handle the limited supplies, with no additional help expected from the water resources department.