PCMC stops new water connection for two months, launches drive against unauthorised connections
Pune: PCMC has decided to halt new water connections for around two months from now and crack down on illegal supply lines.The move is aimed at ensuring consistent supply and curbing wastage amid growing complaints of water scarcity across Pimpri Chinchwad, a senior civic official said.
"Measures like not giving new water connections for two months were being considered only for new projects and this may not be applicable for old properties and independent houses," the official said. Inspections would be intensified at construction sites to ensure use of recycled water, he added.The current water stock in the city's dams was expected to last till July. In addition, a significant drop in groundwater levels had been observed, with many borewells already running dry.Municipal officials said they also received several complaints about rising rates charged by private water tankers.
Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation
(PCMC) has been providing alternate day water supply to citizens since 2019.
Operation Sindoor
Operation Sindoor: Several airports in India closed - check full list
Did Pak shoot down Indian jets? What MEA said
India foils Pakistan's attack on Jammu airport: What we know so far
Many housing societies rely on water tankers, especially during summer, to meet their daily needs.Officials from the water supply department said that unauthorised connections, misuse of potable water for washing vehicles, and inactive sewage treatment plants (STPs) had exacerbated the issue of water scarcity.Earlier last month, civic officials had launched a drive against illegal motor and pump connections on civic water supply lines.
Rules prohibit connecting electric motors or pumps directly to the PCMC's water supply line.The civic body has rolled out a set of measures to curb misuse. Housing societies and commercial establishments, including malls, have been instructed to reuse treated water from their STPs. Those who fail to comply would face strict penalties, including disconnection. Similarly, washing centres and individuals using drinking water for cleaning vehicles would face punitive action, the official said."The population of Pimpri Chinchwad has doubled from 17 lakh in 2011 to approximately 35 lakh, while the increase in water supply has been only 35%. Despite this, PCMC has been consistently providing water supply to citizens throughout the year. However, due to unauthorised usage and high summer demand, the supply is strained," he said.Ajay Suryawanshi, joint city engineer of PCMC, urged residents to use water responsibly. "Until monsoon arrives, everyone must cooperate. Those found wasting water or using it through illegal means will face strict action," he said.Residents and housing society representatives emphasised the need for PCMC to address unauthorised connections as a priority. Sanjeevan Sangle, chairman of Chikhali-Moshi Pimpri Chinchwad Housing Societies Federation, said, "The civic body failed to take strong action against illegal connections." He added that many societies in Chikhali and Moshi had already shifted to tanker supply over the past month due to insufficient PCMC water supply.According to official data, nearly 40% of the city's water supply has been categorised as non-revenue water (NRW). This includes a large number of unauthorised water connections. Around 15% of water is lost due to leakage.Vishal Pandey, a resident of Wakad, said, "Though there is no increase in tanker charges in our area, the number of tankers in our society has increased. We are forced to pay for tankers despite paying all our taxes to the municipal corporation on time."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
18 naval officers graduate as pilots from Helicopter Training School at INS Rajali
Eighteen Indian Navy officers, including a woman, graduated as pilots from the Helicopter Training School at INS Rajali in Tamil Nadu on Monday. They took part in an impressive Passing Out Parade marking the successful completion of their 22-week long intensive flying and ground training at the training school in the Indian Naval Air Squadron-561, a defence release said. "Underscoring the Indian Navy's commitment to foster gender inclusive environment and equal career opportunities for women, Sub Lieutenant Siddhi Hemant Dubey created history by becoming the second woman helicopter pilot of the Indian Navy today, on successful completion of the training," it said. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. The graduating officers were given the coveted 'golden wings', the awards that mark them as the helicopter pilots. The awards were given by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar , Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command . Live Events The new pilots will now be deployed through frontline units of the Indian Navy, undertaking vital roles in reconnaissance, surveillance, search and rescue and antipiracy operations, it said. The release quoted Vice Admiral Pendharkar as saying in his address that the parade marked not only the successful culmination of a rigorous course, but a day when a fresh batch of young and enthusiastic pilots passed through the portals of the school. He noted that the new helicopter pilots have learned not just how to fly, but how to fly with purpose, it said. Pendharkar said Indian naval aviation has always stood for professionalism, precision, and pride.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Interview with Audrey Truschke, author of India: 5000 Years of History
Ever since she wrote Aurangzeb: The Man and the Myth, scholars and lovers of history have looked forward to reading Audrey Truschke, the U.S.-based historian who often presents a fresh perspective on Indian history. Her latest book, India: 5000 Years of History on the Subcontinent, offers a panoramic view of subcontinental history, from early signs of life to the 21st century, documenting the most important political, social, religious, intellectual, and cultural events. Edited excerpts from an interview. Who were the early inhabitants of India? Did our history start with the Indus Valley Civilisation? The first human beings set foot on the Indian subcontinent around 120,000 years ago, and the first humans from whom any modern Indians are descended entered India roughly 65,000 years ago. We know precious little about these early Indians, except that they were migrants. The Indus Valley Civilisation marks the beginning of urban life in India, although only for a few. Even at the height of the Indus Civilisation, most of the subcontinent's inhabitants lived in rural areas. Wasn't the Indus Valley Civilisation a precursor to modern-day Hinduism? In a word: No. There are many ways of conceptualising the roots of Hinduism, and ultimately the religion has multiple origin points. But there is no compelling evidence that pitches the Indus Valley Civilisation as among the progenitor points for Hindu practices or beliefs. On the contrary, the earliest traces of anything we might call Hinduism today come with the Vedic migrants (also known as the 'Aryans,' although I shy away from this term in my book to avoid confusion). The Vedic migrants entered into the northwest of the subcontinent a few centuries after the Indus Civilisation declined, bringing with them a host of ideas about ritual and sacrifice as well as a language that developed into Sanskrit. Women were forbidden from listening to the Vedas in ancient India. They were denied formal education. Did this discrimination cut across barriers of caste and religion? Discrimination is rarely absolute, and we have many cases of women who gained an education, even fluency in Sanskrit, despite prohibitions articulated by upper-caste men. Also, those who revere the Vedas were not the only religious group that populated premodern India. For instance, I draw on women's voices to reconstruct the history of early Indian Buddhists, who did not participate in the gender restrictions of their Vedic counterparts. You have written about Xuanzang studying at Nalanda in the 7th century. We have read conflicting accounts of the destruction of Nalanda in later years. What was the reality? There is no clear evidence that Nalanda was targeted by the Delhi Sultanate raids, which definitely impacted other Buddhist monasteries in the region. If Nalanda was hit, it recovered. We have records of Buddhist monks residing and studying at Nalanda through the late 13th century. Historians have not always evaluated the important role played by the Panchatantra stories as an export of Indian culture. What made you appreciate its contribution? I have spent a significant portion of my adult life reading premodern Sanskrit texts, which has given me a robust appreciation for the tradition's literary and historical value. That includes the Panchatantra. Also, the Panchatantra stories proved notably popular, in various translations, in the premodern Persian-speaking world, which has come up in my prior research. Last, McComas Taylor's 2007 book, The Fall of the Indigo Jackal, on the Panchatantra is excellent, and I found it helpful for thinking about the story collection's cultural specificity. The Cholas conquered parts of Sri Lanka and exerted influence in Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. Why then are they denied their rightful place among the strongest rulers in the subcontinent's history? In my view, the Cholas get their due in most South Asian history books and certainly in mine (in contrast, I give the Guptas less attention for reasons I explain in the book). Still, I would urge those interested in thinking about questioning standard narratives of South Asian history to ask: Why are we so concerned with kings? Whose stories do we miss when we focus on the few who exercised political power? In my chapter on the Cholas, for instance, I also detail the influence of Tamil traders and the accomplishments of artisans of the period. Coming to medieval India, what is your reading of Shivaji? In my book, I present Shivaji as a Shudra king who wanted to be Kshatriya to claim a certain kind of Indian kingship. [There's a school which believes he was indeed a Kshatriya.] Notably, Shivaji was not the only Shudra king of his era, and I also discuss the Nayaka rulers of southern India who did not try to become a different caste but instead pursued other ways of articulating power as Shudra rulers. History, as you say, is full of sad stories. What were the silver linings you discovered about Indian history? Indian history is full of human striving that created a wide range of social, political, cultural, intellectual, and religious possibilities. These days, many people do not take pride in the exquisite diversity within the Indian past, and that is a real shame. Indian history is, indeed, full of sad stories, but it is full of other kinds of stories as well. I strive to value and honour them all through an unvarnished telling of the incredible range of humanity and human experiences that comprise Indian history. India: 5000 Years of History on the Subcontinent Audrey Truschke Princeton University Press ₹1,299
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Mercury-Saturn Square: Rewrite Your Mindset, Reshape Your Success
In the fascinating world of astrology, planetary movements act like cosmic messengers. They bring energy shifts, emotional waves, and spiritual lessons to guide us on our journey. The sky never sleeps. Every alignment, every degree, and every aspect between planets has a story to tell and wisdom to offer. On 9th June 2025, the planetary dance takes an intense turn as Mercury forms a square with Saturn, a challenging aspect that demands deep introspection, maturity, and intellectual discipline. This celestial event is not just a date on the calendar; it is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and restructure the way we think, speak, and learn. It is about unlearning old patterns that no longer serve us and embracing new ways of thinking that align with our higher self. Whether you are aware of it or not, this powerful cosmic tension will affect the way you process thoughts, make decisions, and communicate with others. Understanding this square can help you stay grounded and mindful, turning potential roadblocks into stepping stones. Let us dive deep into the meaning of this Mercury-Saturn square and how we can harness its energy to learn valuable life lessons and shed outdated habits. Understanding the Mercury-Saturn Square Mercury represents the mind, communication, learning, logic, and expression. It governs how we think, speak, write, and process information. It is quick, curious, and youthful. Saturn, on the other hand, is the strict taskmaster of the zodiac. It rules discipline, structure, limitations, karma, and long-term planning. When these two planets form a square aspect—meaning they are ninety degrees apart—it creates tension, friction, and a need for resolution. This alignment on 9th June 2025 sets the stage for mental pressure, overthinking, and sometimes even self-doubt. The universe is not punishing you; rather, it is giving you an opportunity to pause and reconsider the way you use your mind. These square asks: Are your thoughts serving your growth or hindering it? Are your words healing or hurting? Are you open to learning something new, or stuck in old beliefs that restrict you? This is the time to analyse your mental habits. Saturn challenges Mercury's speed by slowing it down, demanding accuracy, caution, and responsibility. It is a cosmic reminder to think before you speak, to listen more deeply, and to be mindful of your mental boundaries. Karma, Dharma and Communication In Indian astrology, also called Jyotish Shastra, planetary aspects are seen as reflections of our karmic journey. Mercury, or Budha, symbolizes our intellectual strength and is also associated with our past life karmas that shape our mental tendencies. Saturn, known as Shani, is the enforcer of karma, dharma, and life lessons that lead to spiritual maturity. The square between Budha and Shani shows that a karmic lesson around communication and responsibility is unfolding. You may find yourself at a point where speaking the truth becomes harder, or where mental fatigue takes over. This is not a time to rush into judgments or decisions. Rather, reflect on your speech, your thoughts, and your tendency to react without awareness. This square is a test of your inner maturity. You are being asked to align your thoughts with your soul's deeper truth. Many people may feel the pressure in their professional life, education, or relationships. The path to growth lies in embracing this discomfort as a teacher. When Budha is checked by Shani, your thoughts are being purified, so that only the essential, meaningful, and truthful ones remain. What Needs to Be Learned: The Wisdom Mercury Offers When Mercury is involved in a difficult aspect like a square, the first step is to become aware of your mental patterns. Are you learning for the sake of learning, or are you applying your knowledge wisely? Are your thoughts serving your well-being, or causing stress and worry? This aspect helps you discover the value of silence, focus, and clarity. This is a powerful time to commit to lifelong learning. Not just external learning, but inner learning—understanding yourself. Reading spiritual books, journaling, or engaging in meaningful conversations can help you bring mental clarity. You will be encouraged to be logical, but also compassionate. The mind must become a servant of the heart, not its master. This period also teaches the value of commitment. Saturn never rewards shortcuts. If you are learning something new, you must approach it with patience and respect. Shani will only reward those who are consistent, serious, and humble in their intellectual pursuits. What Must Be Unlearned: Breaking Free from Limiting Beliefs Every planetary square is also a signal to release what no longer serves us. The Mercury-Saturn square shows us the mental structures we have created, which may have helped us in the past, but now are becoming prisons. Limiting beliefs, harsh self-talk, rigid opinions—these are the things Saturn wants us to let go of. Unlearning is just as sacred as learning. Sometimes we carry the weight of others' opinions, outdated traditions, or childhood fears in our minds. These thoughts stop us from evolving. The square on 9th June 2025 is a perfect time to begin unlearning what is no longer in alignment with your soul. You may feel challenged, misunderstood, or even ignored during this transit. Don't take it personally. Saturn is testing your inner strength. Instead of reacting, respond. Instead of clinging, release. Let go of the need to be right, and focus on being true. The Emotional Impact: Dealing with Inner Resistance Emotionally, this square can feel heavy. There might be moments of doubt, hesitation, or fear. You may struggle to express your thoughts clearly. Misunderstandings are possible. During this time, be kind to yourself. Speak gently, both to yourself and others. Saturn creates distance so that you can go inward. Use this time for reflection. Meditation, silence, and solitude can help you reconnect with your higher self. Remember, this is a temporary phase. Like all cosmic storms, it too shall pass—but the wisdom it brings will stay. Avoid arguing, proving your point, or reacting impulsively. Mercury may want to speak fast, but Saturn asks you to slow down. Take time to process your feelings. Write them down if you cannot say them out loud. Journaling can be very healing during this transit. How to Navigate This Transit Gracefully During this time, take conscious steps to ground your energy. Start your day with prayer or meditation to calm your mind. Avoid multitasking or rushing through work. Give yourself time to complete things properly. Saturn rewards structure, so maintain a daily routine that includes breaks for mental rest. Be mindful of your communication. Choose your words with care, especially in professional or sensitive settings. Double-check important emails, contracts, and documents. Mercury rules paperwork, and Saturn demands precision. This is not the best time to start a new conversation about controversial topics. Wait for a better day if something is emotionally charged. Use this time to complete old tasks, review unfinished projects, or edit your written work. The energy is more favourable for refinement than creation. Also, spend time with elders or teachers who can guide you with wisdom. Saturn respects age and experience. Their words may carry the insight you need. Discover everything about astrology at the Times of India , including daily horoscopes for Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , and Pisces .
