Bombay High Court-Directed Committee Addresses Escalating Water Issues in Pune

A special committee under the directions of the Bombay High Court has been formed to tackle the escalating water scarcity in Pune District. The meeting, held on December 19 at the Divisional Commissioner’s office, was attended by senior officials from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), and representatives of citizens’ groups from affected areas.

The session was chaired by Divisional Commissioner Pulkundwar and aimed to address the critical challenges faced by residents across the district, including regions like Hinjawadi, Balewadi, and Yewalewadi. Citizens voiced their concerns about inadequate water supply infrastructure, inconsistent valve operations, and the prevalence of illegal water connections.

Among the pressing issues discussed was the plight of 2,000 residents of Yewalewadi’s leprosy colony, who have been left without access to municipal water. Despite building an overhead tank through CSR funds, the tank remains dry due to the lack of water supply from the PMC. The Divisional Commissioner directed authorities to resolve the issue within a week.

Hinjawadi water woes

In Hinjawadi, tanker operators were accused of disrupting pipeline water supplies to force residents to rely on their services. Advocate Satya Muley, representing the petitioners, highlighted the plight of societies like High Mont, which receive no piped water and are subjected to exploitation. He urged the committee to focus on sustainable solutions rather than temporary fixes.

To improve accountability, the committee decided that municipal officials would hold monthly meetings with citizen representatives to address grievances. Residents also suggested utilizing SMS notifications to communicate water supply issues and solutions. Publishing detailed water supply data for each housing society on municipal websites was proposed to enhance transparency.

The committee also called for joint surveys by PMC, PCMC, and PMRDA to identify and rectify illegal water connections, water theft, and infrastructure inefficiencies.

The Bombay High Court-directed committee was established following a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by NGOs and residents’ groups, highlighting the acute water scarcity in the region. This meeting underscores the urgent need for collaborative efforts between authorities and residents to combat the worsening water crisis in Pune, ensuring equitable and reliable access to this vital resource.