Pune: Residents of Ganga Kingston Raise Alarm Over Contaminated Water Supply; PMC Inaction Under Fire
Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Kondhwa, 19th September 2025: Over 1,300 residents of Ganga Kingston Society in NIBM Annexe, Mohammadwadi, are facing a serious health hazard due to alleged contamination of their drinking water.
According to residents, untreated drainage water from nearby constructions — including Sterling, Elina Living, and other projects by influential builders — is seeping into a blocked nullah running alongside the residential complex, leading to contamination.
Social worker and resident Jaymala Dhankikar said she has raised the issue multiple times with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), but claims that no effective action has been taken. “The nullah, which was meant to serve as a natural drain, has been blocked due to encroachments. As a result, dirty water is stagnating and seeping into our society’s drinking water storage. This is a direct threat to the health and well-being of more than 1,300 people, including senior citizens and children,” she said.
Residents allege that despite escalating the matter to the PMC Commissioner in April and May, and an on-site inspection in June, civic authorities have failed to act. “This is not just negligence; it’s endangering lives,” Dhankikar added.
According to residents, the responsibility lies with the Building Permission Department and the Anti-Encroachment Cell. They claim that illegal constructions were permitted without adequate drainage planning, and that the nullah, once a functioning outlet for stormwater and sewage, has now become a health hazard due to rampant encroachment.
“The nullah was never meant to be a dumping ground for drainage water,” Dhankikar emphasized. “The fact that these influential builders have diverted wastewater into it, and that PMC has allowed encroachments to choke its flow, shows a serious lapse in governance.”
With cases of waterborne illnesses already being reported, many residents have resorted to buying bottled water. However, they argue this is not sustainable. “Clean drinking water is a fundamental right, not a privilege. We are taxpayers. We expect basic services like safe water and sanitation to be guaranteed,” said Anzar Rade, another resident.
Responding to the concerns, a senior PMC officer said:
“We want to see what has actually happened there. I will visit the society, inspect the problem, and make every possible effort to solve it. After that, we will send the drainage team as soon as possible.”
The incident has sparked wider concerns about urban planning and regulatory oversight in Pune’s rapidly growing suburbs. Experts say unchecked real estate development without adequate infrastructure planning is putting public health and safety at risk.
Dhankikar, who has been vocal on civic issues in the area, has demanded urgent intervention. “We want the nullah cleared of encroachments and restored to its original function. The illegal outlets discharging untreated water must be shut down. And PMC must ensure safe drinking water for every household — without compromise.”
As the festive season approaches, residents warn that PMC’s inaction could trigger a larger public health crisis. Their message to the civic authorities remains clear: act before it’s too late.
