Pune civic body to regulate water consumption through billing every month, warns of snapping supply if metering is opposed

“The only way to keep a check on the consumption of water supply is through metering of supply, which will act as a deterrent to excess and unnecessary use of water. PMC has divided the old city area into five zones for installing meters and revamping the water supply system. We are trying to start recovery of water charges as per consumption based on water meter readings in the area where over 90 per cent supply connections have been installed,” he said, adding this will start monthly billing of water supply to consumers.

The PMC water supply department has started issuing notices to housing societies that are opposing the installation of water meters. The civic body is installing water meters on its own for consumers in the city as a part of its ambitious project of ensuring a sufficient and uninterrupted water supply.

“It is necessary to reduce water leakage to ensure sufficient water for all citizens. PMC is unable to identify the water leakage in the system. Thus, there is a need to measure the supply and consumption of water for which a water meter needs to be installed at each water connection,” said Nandkishor Jagtap, in charge of, water supply department, PMC.

“Housing societies should cooperate with civic administration in installing water meters on the supply connection to them. If they don’t cooperate, then PMC, without intimation, will discontinue the water supply, and the onus of it will be on the concerned housing societies,” added Jagtap.

Jagtap said citizens should use water judiciously, and anyone found misusing treated water will be penalised for washing vehicles and watering plants or for construction activities.

The PMC project aims to reduce water leakage and theft by metering the supply while erecting overhead storage tanks in part of the city to ensure equitable supply to all. Under its project of metering water supply, PMC has put the onus on ensuring the safety and maintenance of water meters with the consumers.

The Maharashtra water resource department has been alleging that PMC draws more water from the dams than is what it is allocated, and citizens consume more water than the set norms, which has led to water shortage for the agriculture sector.