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By:

Rajendra Pandharpure

15 April 2025 at 7:55:54 pm

Pune’s drought could dry up business

Water rationing threatens to hit the city’s wedding industry, construction sector, retail trade and livelihoods. Pune : Pune is beginning to feel the economic sting of drought. A 10 percent cut in the city’s water supply has already been implemented, and the municipal administration has indicated that the reduction could rise to 20 percent or more over the next two to three months. What appears at first to be a water-management crisis could soon become a wider economic problem, affecting...

Pune’s drought could dry up business

Water rationing threatens to hit the city’s wedding industry, construction sector, retail trade and livelihoods. Pune : Pune is beginning to feel the economic sting of drought. A 10 percent cut in the city’s water supply has already been implemented, and the municipal administration has indicated that the reduction could rise to 20 percent or more over the next two to three months. What appears at first to be a water-management crisis could soon become a wider economic problem, affecting businesses, construction activity, employment and household budgets. The Pune Municipal Corporation has begun shutting off the water supply every Thursday. Swimming pools and vehicle-washing centres have been closed, while the use of water for construction has been prohibited. The state government has directed the civic administration to ensure that the reserves in the Khadakwasla dam chain, which supplies Pune, last until August 2027. The challenge could become more acute in the months ahead. Meteorological experts have forecast a milder winter and significantly higher temperatures this year. If these predictions hold true, increased evaporation could place further pressure on the city's water reserves, potentially necessitating stricter rationing. For residents accustomed to a relatively abundant water supply, cuts of 20 percent or more would demand a substantial adjustment in daily life. Intense Pressure The economic consequences are beginning to emerge. The closure of vehicle-washing centres has deprived young people employed in low-skilled jobs of their livelihoods. Swimming-pool closures have similarly affected security guards and lifeguards. These may appear to be small, isolated losses, but they expose a larger problem: when water-intensive businesses are forced to shut down, the burden falls disproportionately on workers with few financial reserves and limited employment alternatives. The impact could spread to Pune’s lucrative wedding industry. The wedding season traditionally gathers momentum after Tulsi Vivah in the month of Kartik, generating business worth more than Rs. 200-250 crore. Pune has long attracted affluent families from outside the city who prefer its venues and facilities for wedding celebrations, partly because of its historically reliable water supply. Persistent restrictions could undermine that advantage. Wedding venues, caterers, hotels and other service providers depend on a dependable water supply to operate. If rationing becomes more severe, organisers may reconsider their choice of venue, while businesses could face higher operating costs and disruptions. An industry that generates substantial seasonal revenue also supports a network of workers and small enterprises, making the potential economic fallout wider than the immediate loss of bookings. Rural-Urban Connection Pune’s commercial fortunes are also linked to the health of the rural economy. A good agricultural harvest typically improves rural incomes, supporting spending on goods and services in urban markets. When farm earnings weaken, that spending tends to contract, affecting traders, retailers and other businesses. If rural incomes remain subdued, the city’s commercial sector could face an additional headwind at a time when water scarcity is already threatening business activity. The interaction between agricultural distress and urban water shortages could therefore deepen the economic slowdown. Construction presents another major vulnerability. Like many large cities, Pune depends heavily on real estate and infrastructure development to sustain economic activity and employment. Construction projects generate demand across a broad network of industries, from building-material suppliers and transport operators to contractors and daily-wage workers. A prolonged restriction on construction-related water use could delay projects, raise costs and disrupt work schedules. If projects stall, the effects will extend beyond developers to workers, suppliers and businesses that depend on the real estate sector. Rising Inflation For ordinary citizens, the prospect of tighter water rationing comes amid an already difficult cost-of-living situation. Food and restaurant prices have risen sharply. A cup of tea now costs more than Rs. 30, while a serving of idli-sambar can exceed Rs. 90. Even street food, traditionally an affordable option for working people, has become increasingly expensive. These prices illustrate the pressure on household budgets, particularly those of workers whose incomes have not kept pace with rising costs. If water shortages push up operating expenses for restaurants, caterers and other businesses, consumers could face further increases. The extent of any additional price rise will depend on how severe and prolonged the restrictions become. The working class is particularly exposed. Workers in vehicle-washing centres, swimming pools, construction and allied services may lose income precisely when everyday necessities are becoming more expensive. Unlike larger businesses, many such workers have little capacity to absorb a prolonged interruption in earnings. Pune’s immediate challenge is to conserve enough water to carry the city through the coming months. Yet the implications of the drought extend well beyond household taps and civic supply schedules. Trade, real estate, hospitality and seasonal businesses all depend, directly or indirectly, on the availability of water. The two sectors facing particular uncertainty are trade and real estate. The former could suffer from weaker consumer spending and disruptions to commercial activity; the latter could be affected by restrictions on construction and the risk of project delays. The consequences would be felt across employment and the wider urban economy. Pune’s residents and businesses have not had to contend with water cuts of 20 percent or more on a sustained basis. Adapting to such restrictions will be difficult, especially if temperatures rise and the drought persists.

Ray’s Masterpiece Restored and Re-Released After 59 Years

Writer: Shoma A. Chatterji
Shoma A. Chatterji
Mar 29, 2025
3 min read

Once again, producers R. D. Bansal and family have brought back a 2K restored version of Satyajit Ray’s Nayak across Indian theatres on 21st February after 59 years; the film had previously premiered in 1966. The restored print includes English subtitles. Varsha Bansal, granddaughter of R.D. Bansal and representing the RDB Organisation, has taken charge of this rebirth. Uttam Kumar was apprehensive about Satyajit Ray presenting him in Nayak without make-up. He had never done this before. In mid-1965, when shooting for Nayak began, Uttam Kumar had just recovered from a bout of chickenpox. Ray asked him to touch up his face only in flashback scenes as if he were a younger man. When the shooting was over, Uttam Kumar said, ‘‘I have discovered a new side to myself. Unhindered by make-up, I felt freer while expressing my emotions.’’


Critics and filmmakers initially came down with hammers and tongs against the film, the main grouse being the casting of Uttam Kumar as the film's hero. They concurred that Ray could have easily chosen an equally talented actor to portray the role of Arindam Mukherjee in the film. Looking back on the film, the critics turned around and said in a chorus that Nayak was perhaps the most outstanding performance of Uttam Kumar in his entire career, where he remained the numero uno till he passed away at a comparatively young age.


This writer chooses, for a change, to read Nayak as a road movie, as it is a journey from Kolkata to Delhi on the Rajdhani Express. The span of the film covers this journey, beginning with the train chugging off and ending at New Delhi railway station.


The road strips away moral virtues, exposing people to their bare essentials, often leading to introspection and philosophy when they leave the comfort of the familiar for the unknown. However, this notion doesn’t entirely hold true for the Indian road movie. Take, for instance, Satyajit Ray’s Nayak—where the film star protagonist embarks on a journey to Delhi, not in search of self-discovery, but to receive the National Award. His secretary failed to get air bookings, so he was forced to travel by Rajdhani Express. Irritated with the unwanted attention of fellow commuters, he goes to the dining car. There, he chances upon Aditi, an editor of a woman's magazine who is travelling to Delhi to receive a grant for her magazine. The physical and geographical journey changes into a journey of introspection for the hero and of discovery for the journalist. To celebrate their brief bonding, Aditi tears up the sheets where she had noted the interview, and when the engine arrives at the Delhi train station, the two part ways.


Says Dipankar De Sarkar in his re-reading of the film: “According to Ray, through Nayak, he wanted to: 1. Investigate the psychology of a movie star; 2. Investigate the psychology of fans; 3. Make a film about a train journey. But there’s one element in the critical narrative about Nayak that remains underplayed, and that is the character played by Tagore.”


The journey unfolds through flashbacks, including a few nightmarish scenes from the hero’s perspective. His past traces his rise from a small-town theatre actor to a film star, but the film omits details of his family background, as they seem unnecessary in retrospect.


The Rajdhani Express carries multiple journeys within its journey. Aditi’s past remains unknown, except for what emerges in conversation. She is single, has a cousin who edits a women’s magazine, and recognises Mukherjee’s name and face but has rarely watched his films.


As the train pulls into Delhi railway station, fans crowd around the hero, greeting him with bouquets and garlands. A crowd forms, but the journalist quietly walks away with her uncle. The hero tries to catch her eye over the heads of the crowd, but she does not turn back.


For her, it was a fleeting yet memorable encounter. For him, an emotional journey he never anticipated. The train’s journey from Kolkata to Delhi is real but layered with stories branching from the hero’s meeting with the obscure editor. Through his interview with Aditi, Arindam’s inner journey unfolds in flashbacks—from a suburban theatre actor to a matinee idol. While the train moves forward, his memories pull him back into the past.


Nayak is a perfect blend of technical and aesthetic craftsmanship. Every aspect—acting, framing, sound design, and art direction—is meticulously executed. Bansi Chandragupta’s brilliance shines in his creation of an entire train solely for the shoot. Sharmila Tagore, free from her starry razzmatazz, delivers a subtle and restrained performance. Nayak is not just a film; it is the film—a masterclass for today’s filmmakers and students.


(The author is a films researcher based on Kolkata.)

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