Pawar has directed the corporations and the district administration to take over all borewells and wells in the district. It has been estimated that there are 399 wells and 4,820 borewells in the district, of which 155 wells and 1,575 borewells have potable drinking water. “Water will be supplied from these sources after testing,” he said. “The builders should make use of sewage water after treatment,” he added.

The Minister told the PMC to dig at least five borewells in the 152 wards of the district with the help of the Groundwater Survey and Development Agency, which will take up the number to 760 borewells, and also provide 20 1,000-litre syntex tanks. He also directed the civic body to provide four extra tankers for each ward to address the situation. The dead storage water, which is about 0.75 TMC, in the dams will also be used for meeting the situation.

He said the tanker operators cannot raise prices arbitrarily. “If there are any reports of untoward rise, we will seize the tankers and operate them on our own.”