Pune Water Crisis Deepens as Reservoir Storage Falls to 14 pc

The Pune region is staring at a possible water crisis as the 'live' storage in reservoirs stood at 14.30 per cent of total capacity on Thursday, significantly less than the 31.16 per cent recorded on the same date last year, according to official data. 

With the onset of the monsoon delayed, water availability is low compared to the last year in several parts of the state, the Maharashtra Water Resources Department's daily update on water availability showed.

Across all 3,028 dams, weirs, and reservoirs in the state, the total 'live' or usable storage stood at 24.03 per cent



on Thursday, compared to the 32.38 per cent recorded on June 18, 2025. 

Every dam has some water stock, considered as dead stock, which is generally not used for any purpose. The water accumulated above the dead stock is considered as live storage.

A senior official of the Water Resources Department, however, said the storage figures could be slightly misleading as in 2025, the south-west monsoon had arrived in Maharashtra by May 28, earlier than usual, and coastal, western Maharashtra and some parts of Central Maharashtra had received heavy rains by mid June.