He said the Pune Municipal Corporation has been told that the available water should be used properly. PMC requires over 650 million litres a day for the supply of drinking water by the irrigation department. The city receives water to meet its demand from the Khadakwasla dam, which is supplemented by the Panshet and Varasgaon dams.

“The irrigation department has contacted us on judicious use of the available water. They have made preparations to tackle the scarcity situation and the PMC will provide all possible help for the execution of plan of irrigation department to make available sufficient water supply,” Pramod Nirbhavane, PMC development engineer (water supply), said.

Meanwhile, the irrigation department said the dams supplying water to the city are filled to 54 per cent of their capacity compared to the corresponding period last year. With the mercury rising in February, the irrigation department took stock of the situation of available water in dams and their planning for the next few months. The Varasgaon dam is 52 per cent filled, Panshet dam 72 per cent and Khadakwasla dam 35 per cent. “The irrigation department has done a successful planning of water management in the past three years, but had a tough time owing to delayed monsoon last year.