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Water bill of over Rs 10 lakh: Pune senior citizen gets ‘shock of life’ from PMC

The PMC has not yet officially replied to the senior citizen's complaint regarding the water bill.

The bill, sent by the water tax department of the PMC, asked Govin Gore to pay a staggering Rs 10,74,787 for February.

On March 3, Govin Gore, 75, received the ”shock of life” when he noticed a water bill on his cellphone. The bill, sent by the water tax department of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), asked him to pay a staggering Rs 10,74,787 for February.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Gore, a resident of the Shaniwar Peth area of Pune city, said his blood pressure rose after seeing the bill. “I was so shocked that I thought I would have a heart attack immediately.”

Gore stated that his wife, who has heart issues, was equally shocked to see the bill. “Her blood pressure spiked, and she was extremely frightened at the thought of having to pay it,” he said.

He said he went to a nearby internet cafe after receiving the bill on the phone. “I took out photocopies of the bill. I then noticed that the bill carried my mobile number but it had someone else’s name, which means the PMC had sent me a wrong bill,” he said.

Gore, who lives with his wife and son, said he obtained a half-inch water connection from the PMC in 2012. “Since then, my monthly water bill has typically been a maximum of Rs 100 or Rs 125. I have never received a bill even close to Rs 1,000, so this amount was very shocking for me to accept,” he said, adding that he does not have any pension and his son is unemployed.

He said he received another bill of Rs 127 on March 4. “I have paid that bill, but there is still no clarification from the PMC regarding the bill of over Rs 10 lakh,” he said

Gore went to the PMC office at Savarkar Bhavan to submit a written complaint on March 4. When he did not receive a response from the PMC, he decided to meet with the PMC commissioner at the civic headquarters on March 12.

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“The commissioner was not available. The officials in the neighboring cabin advised me not to worry, suggesting I go home and take some rest. They mentioned that such incidents sometimes occur. However, they did not acknowledge any mistakes by the civic employees. Their errors could potentially endanger someone’s life. In my case, I was completely shocked when I received the bill,” he said.

When contacted, Nandkishore Jagtap, city engineer (water supply), PMC, said, ”Today is a holiday for the PMC. Tomorrow, I will check the bill and revert to the senior citizen.”

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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