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Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) not to supply water for Holi festivities. To avoid wastage of water during Holi celebrations on Wednesday, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided
to keep six out of eight water tanker filling stations shut for the day. Only the centres at Ramtekdi and Yewalewadi having capacity to fill 35 water tankers will remain open. During the
Holi celebrations, the demand for water tankers increases as residential colonies and some public groups place orders for water tankers for the festivities. Superintending engineer (water
supply) of the PMC, Vijay Kulkarni said, “On an average, daily 250 ferries of water tanker are made to water shortage areas across the city for supplying drinking water. But during Holi,
there would be more demand for water, especially for Holi celebrations. So we have decided to keep water tanker filling centres shut for the day.” However, it seems that except for keeping
water tanker filling centres shut, the PMC did not prepare any plan to take action against Holi revelers causing water wastage. The water supply department of the PMC did not declare any
plan to avoid water wastage or action against errant citizens for wasting water during Holi celebrations. “The water supply to the city will continue as usual with 10% cut,” Kulkarni said.
Some water tanker service providers in the city have already decided unanimously not to supply water tanker for Holi celebrations on the background of the severe drought situation across the
state. During Holi and Rang Panchami celebrations, the demand for water is high, but the city is now already facing 10% water cut. Many residential areas in the city have to depend on the
water supply through tankers. However, this time the tanker suppliers have decided not to supply water for Holi celebration. Shree Balaji Water Tanker Services proprietor, Keshav Kate said,
“It will be too cruel to provide drinking water for Holi or Rang Panchami celebrations when the entire state is in dire need of water.” “In rural areas, right from small children to
housewives and even senior citizens have to walk several kilometres to fetch water. If we supply water here for Holi celebration, then it will be not be in the interest of society as a
whole,” Kate said. Kate heads an informal union of water tanker suppliers in Kondhwa, Dhankavdi, Bibvewadi and surrounding areas. He added, “Two days ago, we decided not to supply water for
Holi celebration. We will not entertain any new order for water tankers during these days.” Devraj Water Tanker owner, Janardan Bandal said, “We have stopped providing water for
construction. During Holi we have decided not to supply water for any purpose except drinking.