Pune: Water Tanker Mafia Exploiting Pisoli Residents Amid PMC’s Inaction
Reported by Sakshi Pandhare
Pisoli, 11th September 2025: Residents of Pisoli, which was merged into the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) limits around three to four years ago, continue to face a serious water shortage despite paying regular taxes and bearing steep monthly bills.
Rising Costs, No Facilities
For Selene A Building Co-operative Housing Society, water costs have been climbing steadily. Society member Kishor Mahire shared the figures:
January: ₹1,12,450
February: ₹1,13,100
March: ₹1,37,800
April: ₹1,32,600
May: ₹1,19,600
June: ₹1,22,850
Mahire said residents feel cheated since the PMC has not provided adequate water facilities despite these exorbitant costs.
Residents Voice Anger
Dilip Lahiti, Chairman of Sai Shraddha Cooperative Housing Society, said:
“We have been living here for 15 years, but even after Pisoli became part of Pune, there is no regular water supply. Though multiple meetings have been conducted, PMC has not prepared the Development Project Report (DPR). No deadline has been given, nor has any dedicated water tank been assigned. We demand the DPR be completed and proper water facilities provided. PMC takes taxes from us but gives nothing in return.”
Snehal Ganapat Dagade, Pune District President of BJP Mahila Morcha (South) and former Sarpanch of Pisoli, added: “In the past two years, PMC has only been supplying drinking water. Because of tanker dependency, accidents have increased. Just recently, a water tanker crushed two two-wheeler riders. All residents here are middle class, yet we are forced to pay society maintenance of nearly ₹50 lakh annually, which is unsustainable.”
Tanker Dependency and “Mafia” Allegations
Residents claim they are being exploited by a “tanker mafia,” where private vendors charge steep prices while official water allocations remain inadequate. To fight back, a federation of about 1,500 residents has been formed to push their collective demands.
PMC Response
When contacted, PMC’s Chief Engineer of the Water Supply Department, Nandkishor Jagtap, said: “There is not enough funding, projects are still underway, and there is unavailability of water.”
Residents’ Demands
Frustrated residents are demanding that the PMC:
Prepare the DPR and set a clear deadline.
Provide pipelines and water tanks dedicated to Pisoli.
Ensure transparent distribution of water to end tanker dependency.
Until then, middle-class families in Pisoli say they will continue paying massive bills without the guarantee of a basic necessity—water.
