Pune: The PMC’s amnesty scheme to regularise illegal water connections has found only 300 takers, over a year after its announcement.According to the civic officials, the scheme was intended to reduce illegal water connections, bring down leakage and improve overall supply management. Under it, property owners could get a water connection regularised by paying a fine worth Rs4,000.“The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is creating awareness about the initiative. We have appealed to more people who have illegal water connections to come forward and get them regularised,” said Santosh Tandale, a senior official of the civic water supply department.PMC areas host around 2 lakh illegal water taps, according to officials, with a majority of these located in slum pockets. Officials said these illegal connections are not only leading to disruption in water supply at the local level, but are also increasing the problem of water scarcity.The civic administration has been surveying illegal connections during the installation of water meters for the 24×7 water supply scheme. “Action against these illegal connections is being carried out. But PMC faces a lot of hurdles while disconnecting illegal water taps due to political pressure. There are many repeat offenders. They install water connections illegally after they are snapped as well,” a senior civic official said, opting for anonymity.PMC had announced a similar amnesty scheme for illegal water connections in 2021, too, appealing to people with illegal water connections to pay a one-time penalty and get their connections regularised. At the time, around 500 connections were regularised, and not a single commercial establishment came forward to benefit from the scheme.A section of civic officials said there were many riders during the first amnesty scheme, and connections only on legal properties were considered for regularisation. In the latest scheme, even his mandate has been removed.Meanwhile, residents with legal taps across city areas continue to struggle with improper water supply. “Areas near densely populated locations suffer as multiple illegal connections crop up. The civic administration must act against such illegal connections. They are hampering overall water supply in the vicinity,” said Mitali Mahajan, a resident of Parvati.
