Pune: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has voiced concerns over the persistent water scarcity plaguing citizens in 34 areas merged into Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) limits.Party leaders on Monday highlighted how unresolved water supply issues were creating a lucrative environment for private tanker operators, who were allegedly imposing exorbitant charges and forcing residents into significant expenditure to meet their daily water needs. The AAP has urged the civic administration to urgently improve the water supply to these areas, providing much-needed relief from daily hardships. Dhananjay Benkar, an AAP office- bearer, said that the current supply in merged areas was “not up to the mark”. He pointed to not only the “monopoly of tanker operators” but also a “significant number of illegal water connections” that are going unchecked. “There is no control over illegal connections and tanker operators,” Benkar said. “We also fear a nexus between the tanker operators and agents, and the indirect involvement of PMC staffers. We, therefore, want the civic chief to investigate the issue and ensure the provision of tankers at affordable rates.” The PMC is currently implementing schemes to enhance water supply in these merged areas in a phased approach, with work commencing on projects such as overhead storage tanks and pipeline laying in some localities. Kiran Kadre, another AAP office-bearer, stressed the need for the administration to “expedite the works to ensure equal distribution of water”. Kadre highlighted the inequitable water distribution currently experienced, where “many areas were facing inequitable water distribution, wherein some areas are getting more water supply than nearby pockets”. He suggested this could be due to “malpractices in the operation of water supply valves”. The AAP also noted that the PMC has sanctioned Rs48 crore for water supply in merged areas and called for “a detailed investigation into the utilisation of funds”. Party leaders have threatened “strong agitation” if the civic administration fails to address these critical issues. Meanwhile, citizens from these merged areas have already approached the civic administration, requesting checks on the quality of water supplied by private tanker operators and the deployment of more PMC-run tankers to reduce their reliance on private services.
