Pune: PMC Accused of Forcing Citizens to Sign ‘No Court’ Bond for Water Connections in Mohammadwadi

Kondhwa, 25th May 2026: A major controversy has erupted in the Mohammadwadi – NIBM Annexe suburb after residents accused the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) of forcing housing societies to sign what they termed an “anti-citizen indemnity bond” before granting water connections, allegedly compelling citizens to surrender their legal rights in exchange for a basic civic amenity.

The controversy centres around an undertaking on a ₹500 stamp paper allegedly being made mandatory by PMC’s water supply department for societies seeking water connections. Residents claimed the undertaking contains a contentious clause stating that if PMC fails to provide water supply or if the supply later proves inadequate, society members will not approach courts or initiate legal proceedings against the civic body.

The condition has triggered widespread anger among residents of Mohammadwadi, Undri, Pisoli and surrounding areas where thousands of families have suffered from tanker dependence and erratic water supply for years despite rapid urbanisation and massive tax collections.

According to residents, at least 41 housing societies from the Undri-Mohammadwadi region have applied for water connections. Of these, 31 applications have reportedly been sanctioned while seven societies have already started receiving water supply.

However, residents alleged that PMC is using the bond mechanism to shield officials from accountability while simultaneously enabling a deeply entrenched system of corruption involving approved plumbers, liaison agents and middlemen.

“This is nothing but legal blackmail by the PMC. Citizens are paying taxes, development charges and water charges, yet the civic body wants immunity even if it fails to provide water. The undertaking contains objectionable and unconstitutional conditions. Water supply is the basic duty of the PMC and citizens must think twice before signing away their rights,” said area resident Ashok Mehendale.

Ward 41 corporator launched a sharp attack on the PMC administration and alleged that corruption in the water supply department has become institutionalised.

“PMC cannot impose unilateral and unfair conditions on citizens, such as forcing them to sign undertakings that they will not complain even if water supply is stopped or inadequate. Access to water is a basic civic right, not a favour. Residents are already burdened by exorbitant liaison charges and corruption at various levels involving plumbing and water connections. Such mega corruption must stop immediately. Pune urgently needs transparent, citizen-centric water policy reforms that ensure accountability, fair distribution and protection of people’s rights,” Bandal said.

Residents alleged that the existing PMC-approved plumber system has effectively created a parallel network of private operators who allegedly extract huge sums from housing societies for processing water connection work.

“The approved plumber system itself is the root cause of corruption. Why should societies be forced to route everything through private plumbers and intermediaries? PMC should directly collect official charges from societies and itself execute the infrastructure work and tapping from the main water line. The current arrangement is designed to keep residents financially exploited and administratively subservient,” alleged resident Aparna Kulkarni.

Kulkarni further alleged that societies are allegedly being forced to spend an average of nearly ₹3 lakh each for liaison work, plumbing approvals and processing.

“If nearly 40 societies are paying around ₹3 lakh each, this amounts to almost ₹1.20 crore in illegal money circulating around the water connection process. Citizens are being squeezed for basic services while corruption flourishes openly,” she alleged.

Social activist termed the undertaking legally questionable and unconstitutional.

“Access to clean water is intrinsically linked to Article 21 and the fundamental right to life. A civic body cannot force citizens to waive their legal remedies through administrative affidavits. Asking residents not to approach courts even if PMC fails to provide water is a blatant attempt to escape accountability,” Singh said.

Area residents said ordinary taxpayers were being harassed while corruption continued unchecked.

“PMC cannot treat citizens like helpless consumers while denying them their fundamental right to water. Asking residents to sign conditions that they will not complain even if water supply is stopped or inadequate reflects sheer administrative arrogance. Citizens are already suffering because of irregular supply, tanker dependence and rampant corruption in the PMC water supply department. From plumbing approvals to new connections and liaison work, an entire parallel system of exploitation has flourished where ordinary residents are forced to pay heavily while basic services remain unreliable. Honest taxpayers are being harassed while corruption continues unchecked,” Rade said.

On his part, PMC water supply department chief defended the practice and said such undertakings are a routine part of the process across Pune.
“This clause is included for situations such as water scarcity or infrastructure breakdowns. We do not want legal disputes during such situations. Only a handful of people are objecting. A lot of hard work has gone into making these water connections possible and these formalities are part of the routine procedure,” Jagtap said.

The controversy has once again spotlighted the severe infrastructure crisis in the rapidly expanding Undri-Mohammadwadi belt where residents have long alleged discrimination in water allocation despite the area contributing substantial property taxes and development revenue to the PMC. Citizens are now demanding immediate withdrawal of the undertaking clause, abolition of the approved plumber-liaison system and a transparent, accountable and corruption-free water connection policy.