Pune: Undri-Mohammadwadi Residents Say Politicians Ignored Water Crisis for Years, Now Fighting for Credit

Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Kondhwa, 16th May 2026: After more than 15 years of waiting, residents of Mohammadwadi and Undri in south Pune have finally started receiving municipal water supply in some pockets of the area. But even before the project is fully operational, a political battle over credit has erupted, with the area witnessing a surge of banners and hoardings ahead of the formal inauguration by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday (17th May).

Local politicians from the BJP, NCP and Shiv Sena factions are now vying to take credit for the water supply project.

For thousands of families living in the rapidly growing residential belt, the arrival of water has come after years of dependence on private tankers, repeated protests, and relentless follow-ups with authorities.

Residents alleged that elected representatives remained largely absent while citizens struggled for a basic necessity.

“For years, residents of Undri-Mohammadwadi fought a lonely battle for water supply while elected representatives remained missing from the ground reality. Thousands of families were forced to depend on expensive private tanker water for survival. No MLA or MP came to our rescue when we were struggling for something as fundamental as drinking water,” said a resident from the NIBM Annexe area.

He said citizens continuously held meetings, submitted representations, and pursued the matter with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), despite repeated delays and administrative hurdles.

One of the key citizen groups spearheading the movement was the Mohammadwadi Undri Residents Welfare Development Foundation (MURWDF), which organised protests, awareness campaigns, and sustained correspondence with civic officials over the years.

“Since the formation of the foundation, we have consistently highlighted several civic issues, especially the severe water crisis in the area. Though we approached successive municipal commissioners, it was the current PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram who took serious cognisance of the issue, personally visited the area with all departments, and understood the ground situation in detail,” said Sunil Aiyer, a resident of Nyati Chesterfield and a key member of the foundation.

He said that although the administration eventually responded positively, the pace of implementation remained slow.

Most housing societies in Undri-Mohammadwadi continue to depend heavily on private water tankers, which dominate the area’s roads daily. Last month, two young persons lost their lives in separate tanker-related accidents, triggering widespread anger among residents.

“The tragic deaths shook the entire area and reignited the demand for a permanent piped water supply. Thousands of residents came out on the streets, forcing the administration to wake up from its slumber,” said Sunil Koloti, another member of the residents’ foundation.

Residents credited Additional Municipal Commissioner Pavneet Kaur for accelerating the final phase of the project.

“She became a saviour for the area. We call her ‘Paani Wali Bai’. She ensured that the pipeline work was completed on priority and that no obstruction by vested interests slowed down the project further,” Koloti said.

According to residents, civic officials worked round the clock over the past few weeks to ensure that water reached storage tanks near Dorabjee Mall before May 15.

However, many residents pointed out that the problem is far from fully resolved, especially for societies located on elevated terrain.

“The water has reached only some parts of Mohammadwadi. Societies situated on hilltops are still waiting. What is disappointing is that several political leaders are now competing to take credit for work they conveniently ignored for years,” said Durga Krishnamurthy, a resident of Nyati Ethos.

While the formal inauguration may mark a significant milestone for the area, residents said the larger struggle for equitable and uninterrupted water supply is still ongoing.