Pune Society Shocked by Rs 24 Lakh Water Bill Amid PMC Meter Reader Shortage
Bavdhan, 29th April 2025: A housing society in Bavdhan has been left stunned after receiving a water bill of ₹24 lakh from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), despite not receiving a single commercial water bill for the past year. The incident has highlighted a serious manpower shortage in the civic body’s water department, which currently has only 24 meter readers for the entire city — with 59 positions lying vacant.
The DSK Ranwara Society, which has over 500 flats and some commercial units, typically received a bi-monthly bill of ₹60,000 to ₹80,000 for its commercial water connection. However, the society claims it did not receive any bills for the last year — only to be served a cumulative bill of ₹24 lakh recently.
“We used to pay the commercial water bill every two months. But we haven’t received any bill for a year, and now we’re suddenly asked to pay ₹24 lakh. This is unfair and shocking. If the bills had come on time, we would have paid them regularly. We are now appealing to the PMC for a resolution,” said Madhuri Deshpande, Secretary of the society.
Staffing Crisis Hits Billing System
The PMC’s water supply department currently has a sanctioned strength of 83 meter readers, but only 24 are in service. The shortage is a result of years of non-recruitment, while existing staff continue to retire due to age. This has led to irregular meter readings, particularly affecting commercial water users, who are now receiving annual bills instead of the usual two-month cycle.
Superintending Engineer of the Water Supply Department, Prasanna Raghav Joshi, acknowledged the problem. “Due to staff shortages, we are unable to take regular meter readings. We send staff to attend only when there are complaints of faulty meters. However, we do not have the authority to waive or reduce water bills,” he said.
Automation on the Horizon
The PMC has been installing nearly 1.8 lakh new water meters under its Uniform Water Supply Scheme, aimed at ensuring equal water distribution across the city. These include both residential and commercial connections.
Officials say the old mechanical meters are being replaced with Automatic Reading Meters (ARM), which will record water usage more accurately and automatically, reducing reliance on manual meter readers. However, until the system is fully implemented, issues like delayed billing are likely to continue.
Other Staffing Gaps
Besides meter readers, 50 to 55 posts of mistri and muqadam — essential for repair and maintenance — are also lying vacant. Despite the urgency, the recruitment process has not progressed for years.
As PMC moves toward metered billing for all domestic connections, civic activists warn that unless staffing is addressed, citizens may face more such unexpected bills and bureaucratic hurdles.
