However, these additional measures are proving not to be enough and therefore, we have started saving as much water as possible.”

“We have stopped washing the coaches of trains that set out from here or end their journey here. We are filling only as much water in these trains as necessary for the use of passengers.”

“We have requested the other divisions to add more water when the train makes a halt at any of the stations in their jurisdiction,” he said.

PMC’s water supply chief Pramod Nirbhavne said, “The railways are asking for more water, but we are helpless. We have told them to make their own arrangements. We have asked them to stop washing the coaches so that it is not wasted.”

He said the PMC will appoint two inspectors to check whether this is being carried out properly.

Nitin Patil

Bore wells : Groundwater agency identifies 167 spots in city

The Groundwater Survey and Development Agency (GSDA) has identified 167 spots in the city, where new bore wells can be dug, in the past four days.

The initiative followed a meeting called by Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar on July 2, in which the GSDA was asked to identify spots for new bore wells. “We surveyed 220 sites, of which 167 sites have been identified as technically feasible,” said GSDA director Vikas Kharage.

The spots identified are in and around Shankar Maharaj Math, Gultekdi, Market Yard, Bibvewadi, Shelar Mala, Dinanath Mangeskar Hospital, Someshwar Mandir — Pashan, Baner Phata, Spicer College, Pune Station, Camp, Koregaon Park, Shivajinagar, Undri, Pisoli, Kharadi and Rasta Peth, among others. These are over and above the 399 dug wells and 4,820 bore wells already identified by the GSDA for the Pune Municipal Corporation. Of these, 155 dug wells and 1,575 bore wells are high-yielding.

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