Pune: Residents of Kharadi, Keshavnagar, Wagholi and Mundhwa on Wednesday raised water-related issues like inadequate quantity, supply at low pressure and poor water quality — all of which continue to increase their dependency on private tankers and weigh heavy on their pockets.Residents presented the problems to Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials at a joint meeting led by additional municipal commissioner MJ Pradip Chandren at the civic headquarters. The aggrieved said lack of a strong water distribution infrastructure aggravating scarcity had left them frustrated. They urged the civic authorities to develop concrete plans to improve supply and act against builders who fail to provide water to housing societies.Yogita Ambade, a Kharadi resident, said, “Time management of the distribution system is not balanced — some parts get water for almost three hours, while it is not even an hour for other pockets. The pressure stays very low and compels housing societies to buy water. At present, many works related to supply are on. Why weren’t these completed before monsoon?”Prabha Karpe, another resident and representative of the Kharadi Housing Federation Association, said the water supply department needs to closely monitor operation of valves to maintain adequate and equal supply. Lapses in valve management create an artificial scarcity, she added.People from various housing societies in Keshavnagar said PMC and builders have failed to establish proper supply and residents have no choice but to purchase water for daily requirements. “Civic officials must take legal action against builders who do not provide water. Although PMC has given connections to societies, supply has not improved. Quality of tanker water is bad and there are no checks on what is being supplied,” said residents.Pratik Kudale of Manjri said supply to housing societies in his area is erratic and insufficient. In fact, it has dropped after Manjri and adjacent areas were merged within PMC limits.Advocate Satya Muley has been holding meetings with housing societies, PMC and district authorities. He said representatives of almost 250 housing societies were present with their grievances at the meeting. It indicated that water scarcity was a major problem even during a good monsoon.Muley said, “Housing societies want PMC to take a firm stand against builders defaulting on supply and make them pay.”PMC’s water supply department head Nandkishor Jagtap said, “A new overhead storage tank will be ready in Kharadi over the next two months. It will improve supply in the area. Water issues will be tackled on priority.”
