Pune: PMC Challenges Rs 869 Crore Water Dues Claim of Maharashtra Water Resources Department
Pune, 10th March 2025: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has filed a claim with the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) contesting the Rs 869 Crore water dues demanded by the Irrigation Department. The PMC argues that the rates and penalties imposed by the department are incorrect, as they inaccurately reflect industrial water usage and sewage treatment. The MWRRA has accepted the PMC’s claim, with a hearing scheduled for 20th March.
The PMC disputes the Irrigation Department’s assertion that it has used industrial water, stating that no such usage occurs in the city. Additionally, the PMC claims to treat and reuse over 6.5 TMC of sewage annually, which contradicts the department’s pollution penalties. The PMC believes that if these discrepancies are corrected, it might even be owed money by the Irrigation Department. Despite this legal challenge, the PMC has shown willingness to pay part of the arrears, with plans to settle Rs 200 Crore by the end of March for additional water usage.
In a recent canal committee meeting, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar directed the PMC to pay Rs 100 crore towards arrears, but the PMC is only willing to pay Rs 44 crore initially. The PMC is allocated a budget of Rs 150 crore for water bills this year and plans to allocate an additional Rs 50 crore to meet the total bill of Rs 200 crore, which includes both current charges and arrears.
