Tankers Replace Taps in Pune’s Undri and Pisoli as Water Woes Worsen

Undri, 8th May 2025: Residents from Holkarwadi, Undri, Pisoli, and Mohammadwadi voiced strong concerns about inadequate water supply during a meeting with Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials on Wednesday. The meeting, prompted by a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Bombay High Court, highlighted ongoing water shortages and increasing reliance on costly private tankers.

Representatives from several housing societies attended the discussion at PMC’s head office, where they described the daily struggle to access basic water despite paying taxes and service charges.

“Every month, we pay property tax and water charges, but there’s still no regular water supply,” said Snehal Dagade, former sarpanch of Undri. “Many societies have to depend almost entirely on tankers. It’s frustrating that three overhead tanks are ready but not yet operational. What’s holding the PMC back?”

Residents also criticized PMC for its failure to develop adequate infrastructure in areas merged into the city limits in 2017 and 2021. They pointed to a lack of planning and incomplete pipeline connections, which are hindering equitable water distribution across rapidly growing residential zones.

Satya Muley, who is representing the affected societies in the ongoing legal battle, said, “Citizens from newly merged areas are facing the brunt of PMC’s apathy. We shared our problems directly with senior officials and expect them to act swiftly. We’ll continue to follow up until we see real improvements.”

Attendees noted that the issue isn’t just about quantity, but also about fairness in allocation. “The pipeline exists, the storage tanks are built, but water doesn’t reach our homes. It feels like we’ve been added to PMC limits only on paper,” said a resident from a society in Pisoli.

In response, PMC’s water supply department head, Nandkishor Jagtap, assured residents that immediate steps are being taken. “We’ve instructed our staff to review complaints on a case-by-case basis. Extra tanker trips are being scheduled, and pending infrastructure work like pipeline connections will be fast-tracked,” he said.
He also mentioned that PMC is preparing a comprehensive project report to revamp the water supply system in these growing suburbs. “The long-term goal is sustainable and equitable water supply, but until then, we’re trying to manage with short-term solutions,” he added.

Despite the promises, residents remain skeptical, emphasizing that words must now turn into action. With summer intensifying and demand surging, they say the time for delay is over.