Water woes compounded in 23 merged villages due to affidavits taken from builders
Pune : NpNews24 Online – Pune PMC Water Supply Issue In 23 Villages | The water woes in the 23 merged villages have been compounded as housing projects have been allowed to come up merely on the basis of the affidavits taken from builders that they would be responsible for the water needs of their clients. It was not considered how the builders would supply water to these residents or how the respective gram panchayats (GPs) would supply water to them.
The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has been taking these affidavits from builders since 2018 when the then State Urban Development Minister and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was the Chairman of the PMRDA.
The villages were merged into the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) last year. These villages have been urbanized. Earlier, the PMC used to supply water by tanker or wherever there are water tanks by bulk supply. Housing societies built legally or illegally outside the village limits are getting water by private water tankers, borewells and at some places, it is provided by the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran.
The PMRDA was established in 2016. Big housing projects were launched in these villages after that. Big builders from Pune and Mumbai have focused on the suburbs as development has been taking place at a much faster pace there. Initially, they supplied water to flat owners. Later, they expressed their inability to provide water to them. Residents are forced to buy tanker water at many places. It is a fact that these societies are spending huge amounts on water.
Some corporators supplied water to some societies during their tenure. However, the civic polls have been delayed. Corporators are finding it difficult to continue ‘spending’ money on water tankers. Therefore, these corporators, particularly from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have now ‘realised’ the gravity of the issue after the new delimitation plan has come into effect.
The affidavits policy was made by the then Fadnavis-led government. It was made mandatory for builders to furnish a letters from an authorized hydrogeologist, the groundwater survey and the planning departments if a builder provided borewell water to their customers. These builders have stated in their affidavits that if they or GPs fail to provide water to their customers, they would not approach any judicial forum.
This clause was inserted in the affidavit as the court had earlier directed not to allow constructions in the areas where water is not provided or no alternative source is available. The developers expressed fears that their investment of crores of rupees would be wasted following the court directive. In this background, the Fadnavis-led government started taking the affidavits, it is said.
In the backdrop of impending civic polls, aspirants have been harping on the water issue in the 23 merged villages. Hence, BJP former corporator Dilip Vede Patil filed a petition in the high court over the issue. He has demanded fixing of the responsibility to provide water in these villages either with the PMRDA or the PMC.
The HC directed the PMC to supply water and posted the matter for the next hearing.
While the PMC has started planning for the water supply in these villages, the PMRDA is issuing letters to the builders, who failed to provide water to these societies.
The hearing of suggestions and objections on the development plan prepared by the PMRDA is underway. The administration has estimated a requirement of four TMC water for the 4,500-sq km area, including the 23 merged villages, under the PMRDA. However, it is still not known how this much water would be sourced. An agency has been appointed to prepare a draft plan for water supply to the PMRDA areas. However, it has still not submitted its report.
Since the villages have been merged into the PMC, it is the civic body’s responsibility. However, these villages have to wait for a long time before the PMC could build a water supply system for them.
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