Pune: PMC Faces Deadline To Clear Rs 726 Crore Water Dues; Risk Of Supply Cut Looms
Pune, 15th February 2025: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been issued a strict deadline by the Water Resources Department to clear ₹726 crore in outstanding water charges accumulated over the past nine years. The department has warned that failure to pay by 25th February could result in a phased reduction of the city’s water supply.
With just over a month left in the financial year 2024-25, the Water Resources Department has intensified pressure on PMC to settle the dues. The city currently receives an approved quota of 11.50 TMC of drinking water from the Khadakwasla project, and in 2018, the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority established revised water usage rates. These revised charges have been implemented since 2022, but PMC’s arrears, dating back to 2016, have continued to grow.
A formal notice demanding payment has been issued by Shweta Kurhade, Executive Engineer of the Khadakwasla Irrigation Department. However, PMC has sought relief, arguing that the fine imposed for water pollution should be waived. Additionally, the PMC has requested that the charges applied for two TMC of water, currently billed as industrial use, be reclassified as residential use, since PMC does not use this portion for industrial purposes.
The outstanding dues have impacted the operations of the Khadakwasla Irrigation Department, which relies on these funds for essential work such as dam safety, canal maintenance, and employee salaries. As the deadline approaches, PMC faces increasing pressure to settle the arrears or risk significant water supply disruptions.
