Independence Day: Despite protests & court battle, residents still to gain ‘freedom from water tankers’

“The city has seen rapid urbanisation increasing the demand for water. The civic body is committed to provide water to each citizen and is working to ensure that there is equitable distribution of water across the city. The work on an uninterrupted and equitable water supply project is being implemented which will resolve the situation,” said Nandkishore Jagtap, in-charge of civic water supply department.

The worst affected areas due to water shortage are the outskirts of Mohammadwadi-Undri, Wagholi, Baner-Balewadi, Bavdhan, Sinhagad road and Katraj-Kondhwa road residents. “The current reliance on water tankers is unsustainable. The laying of a permanent waterline must be prioritised to ensure consistent and affordable water supply for residents of the area. The PMC should expedite the laying of pipelines. We will meet the municipal commissioner to remind the civic administration of our demands,” said a member of Mohammadwadi-Undri Residents Welfare Development Foundation.

In Nagar Road area, Nitinkumar Jain of Wagholi Housing Society Association said that they are spending Rs 5 lakh average on water tankers every month to meet the needs of 500 households. “We reached out to PMC but they merely laid the foundation stone for the pipeline but work has not started as of now. Citizens have to pay a lot for getting water from private suppliers,” he said, adding the association also wrote to the chief minister but no response is there so far.

Dushyant Bhatia of Bavdhan Citizen Forum said that there is some improvement in parts of Bavdhan Khurd but the residents of Bavdhan Budruk continue to suffer. “The societies still have to purchase water from outside as the PMC has not laid the pipelines in the area. We have been insisting that the civic body should take up basic pipeline work on priority basis but nothing has been done despite continuous follow-up.”