Water Supply Department Dismantles 1,481 Illegal Water Connections in Pune
Pune, 15th October 2025: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has intensified action against illegal water connections in the city, targeting both commercial and domestic users. The Water Supply Department has begun dismantling unauthorized connections while simultaneously accelerating the process of issuing notices to violators.
The move follows directives from Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who in an August meeting emphasized that excess water usage must be curbed and water should be released into rivers only after detecting and addressing leaks. Acting on these instructions, PMC started installing water meters from August 1 and prioritizing the identification of water leaks across the city.
“The action began during Ganesh Chaturthi, focusing on those taking illegal water connections. It has now been accelerated across water supply centers including Chatushrungi, Swargate, and Lashkar,” said Prasanna Joshi, Superintendent Engineer of the Water Supply Department. He added that illegal taps were being installed in hotels, restaurants, eateries, garages, and construction sites.
Political interference had previously allowed unauthorized water connections to proliferate at the local level. However, the combined directives of the Minister and a strict stance taken by the Municipal Commissioner on water meters and leak prevention have started curbing such practices. The crackdown has created significant fear among illegal water consumers.
According to PMC data, the city has a total of 3,18,000 official tap connections. So far, 1,481 unauthorized connections have been dismantled, while 166 connections have been regularized under official rules.
“The action against new unauthorized connections is ongoing. Some taps are being authorized as per the rules,” Joshi said, adding that the Water Supply Department is committed to preventing water leakage and ensuring proper usage.
