‘We Are Buying Bottled Water for Daily Use’: NIBM Road Residents Hit by Water Shortage

Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Kondhwa, 19th June 2026: Residents of Gera Greens Condominium on NIBM Post Office Road have raised serious concerns over what they describe as an “unfair and disproportionate” reduction in water supply under the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) ongoing alternate-day water distribution schedule.

The society, home to a predominantly elderly population, claims it has been receiving less than two hours of water supply every alternate day—far below the expected duration—leaving residents without sufficient water for drinking, bathing, and other basic daily needs.

Gera Greens Condominium is a small residential society comprising 22 flats across three four-storey buildings. More than 80 per cent of its residents are senior and super senior citizens, many of whom have lived there for over 25 years. The society also houses several retired Army officers and medical professionals.

For over two decades, the society has received twice-daily water supply from the Cantonment Water Works.

According to residents, PMC’s alternate-day water supply schedule, implemented from June 15 due to the city’s water shortage, does not explicitly mention NIBM Road. Since Gera Greens receives water through the Cantonment Water Works, the society has been receiving supply only on even-numbered days.

However, residents allege that while PMC’s official notification states that areas would receive water according to their regular timings on alternate days, the actual duration of supply has been drastically reduced.

Residents said they received around two-and-a-half hours of water supply on June 16 and less than two hours on June 18, filling barely one-fourth of the society’s storage tank. As a result, the society exhausted its reserves by the following day, leaving several residents without enough water even for drinking.

The situation has worsened as private tanker operators are reportedly refusing fresh bookings due to overwhelming demand across Pune. Residents say that despite paying PMC water taxes for more than 25 years and depending entirely on the civic water supply, they are now worse off than newly developed areas that rely on regular tanker deliveries.

The residents have also questioned why some areas appear to be receiving significantly longer water supply despite the restrictions.
They have sought answers from PMC regarding the criteria used to determine supply hours. Residents allege that while some neighbourhoods reportedly continue to receive five to six hours of water supply, Gera Greens receives less than two hours. They also questioned whether localities represented by influential political leaders or those with larger voter populations are being prioritised.

Another concern raised by the society is the alleged contradiction between PMC’s public notification and the explanation provided by local water department officials. Residents claim that engineers assigned to the area informed them that no assurance had been given for more than three hours of supply, despite PMC’s published schedule stating that water would be supplied according to normal timings on alternate days.

The society has also expressed disappointment over the absence of elected representatives during the crisis, alleging that residents have been unable to obtain assistance or even contact details of newly elected corporators.

Hutokshi Doctor, a resident of Gera Greens Condominium, said the situation has become so severe that families are purchasing bottled water for routine household use.

“Residents are now being forced to buy bottled water even for washing and other daily needs. It is distressing that senior citizens who have faithfully paid water taxes for decades are struggling to access even the most basic necessity.”

Resident Sarosh Aibara said the crisis has particularly affected elderly residents. “Most of us are senior citizens. I was in the hospital for six days. When I returned home, there was no water in the house—not even in the bathroom. Tanker suppliers are refusing to supply water to our society. We have stopped watering the gardens, reduced our water consumption for bathing, and are conserving every drop. We are only asking for enough water to survive until the next supply.”

Another resident, Gita Vasudevan, said the society is facing an unsustainable situation.

“Yesterday, we received water for less than two hours, and today we were in a real bind. Water suppliers are not even answering our calls. If we receive less than two hours of water every 48 hours, there is bound to be a crisis. Our society consists mainly of retired Army officers, retired doctors, and senior citizens. We cannot spend every waking moment worrying about water. We can clearly see nearby areas receiving sufficient water. We are not asking that others receive less—we simply want enough water to meet our basic needs.”

Responding to the allegations, a PMC official said the civic administration is aware of the city’s ongoing water shortage and appealed to citizens to cooperate until the monsoon improves the situation.

“The alternate-day water supply system has been implemented across Pune because of the prevailing water shortage. It is not the case that one area is intentionally receiving more water than another. However, if such a situation is found, we will examine it. We will look into the issues raised by this particular society and take the necessary steps to address their water requirements. Citizens are also requested to cooperate during this difficult period until water availability improves.”

Residents have urged PMC to immediately review the water supply pattern for Gera Greens Condominium and ensure equitable distribution. They say that while they understand the need for water conservation during the shortage, senior citizens should not be left without sufficient drinking water and sanitation facilities because of what they believe is an arbitrary and inadequate supply schedule.