High Court Mandates Action: Pune Officials Discuss Water Supply Challenges
Pune, 20th December 2024: A special committee meeting addressing the pressing issue of water scarcity in Pune district was held on December 19, 2024, at the Divisional Commissioner’s office. The committee was formed under the directives of the Bombay High Court in response to PIL 126 of 2022. The meeting, chaired by Pune Divisional Commissioner Pulkundwar, brought together key stakeholders, including officials from Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), and citizen representatives from various affected areas.
Key Discussions and Decisions:
Monthly Meetings: PMC, PCMC, and PMRDA were directed to conduct monthly meetings involving water supply department officials and citizen representatives to address water scarcity issues in their respective jurisdictions.
Hinjawadi Region: A separate meeting involving the PMRDA CEO was mandated to address the acute water shortage in the Hinjawadi region. This meeting will be held within two weeks.
Ward-Level Grievances: Ward-wise monthly meetings will now specifically focus on water-related complaints. Citizens demanded proactive communication from ward officers to housing societies about grievance redressal mechanisms.
Leveraging Technology for Citizen Outreach: Residents suggested using existing property tax databases to send SMS alerts for water supply grievances. PMC and PCMC officials agreed to explore this proposal and provide updates in future meetings.
Publishing Water Supply Data: Residents requested local bodies to publish water supply data by society on their websites using meter readings for transparency.
Illegal Practices and Maintenance Concerns: Illegal connections, water theft, and suction pumps disrupting supply were highlighted as significant issues. Joint surveys by PMC, PCMC, and PMRDA were suggested to address these problems. Concerns were raised about PMC’s routine Thursday maintenance, which disrupts water supply until Saturday, forcing reliance on water tankers.
Critical Issues Highlighted: Yewlewadi Leprosy Colony: Advocate Satya Muley emphasized the plight of 2,000 residents of the leprosy colony who receive no water from PMC pipelines or tankers. The Divisional Commissioner directed immediate resolution within a week. Hinjawadi and Maan Region: Advocate Muley also flagged issues in areas like High Mont society, where pipeline sabotage and tanker monopolies exacerbate water scarcity. Temporary Solutions Insufficient: Societies like Margosa Heights in Undri reported worsening conditions despite temporary improvements.
Citizen Action and Email Helplines: To streamline water scarcity complaints, PMC and PCMC have established dedicated email addresses: PCMC: [email protected] PMC: [email protected]
Advocate Satya Muley urged citizens to send their complaints in a specified format and copy them to [email protected] for follow-up and inclusion in reports submitted to the Bombay High Court.
Background: The PIL 126 of 2022, filed by various NGOs through Advocate Satya Muley, prompted the Bombay High Court to establish this special committee. The committee meets bi-monthly to address issues concerning water scarcity in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the PMRDA region.
