Clampdown On Water Theft: Assistant Commissioners Made Accountable For Tanker Inspections In Pune
Clampdown On Water Theft: Assistant Commissioners Made Accountable For Tanker Inspections In Pune
Pune: With the growing demand for water tankers across various parts of the city, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been supplying free water tankers. However, many areas have reported that the tankers are not reaching them, resulting in complaints about water not being delivered.
To address this issue, the PMC has made it mandatory for Assistant Commissioners in respective zones to sign off on tanker route logs. This step is expected to curb water theft, as the responsibility of monitoring tanker movements will now rest directly on these officials.
The onset of summer has led to a surge in demand for water tankers. Compared to February, the number of tankers deployed in March increased by 10,000 — from 38,522 in February to 47,896 in March. The numbers are expected to rise further in April and May.
PMC provides water tankers to areas facing insufficient water supply. However, frequent complaints have emerged that tankers never arrive at their designated locations. As a result, the administration has decided to investigate. To monitor the tankers’ daily rounds and ensure they are reaching intended areas, Assistant Commissioners must now verify and sign the daily route registers. This move ensures accountability and is expected to significantly curb water theft.
In some areas, there have been complaints to the Water Supply Department that municipal water tankers were emptied prematurely by political leaders or their workers. The PMC has decided to look into these complaints as well. According to the Water Supply Department, a total of 4,04,340 water tankers were deployed across the city in the financial year 2024-25.
Water Theft Despite GPS Monitoring?
Though the tankers are fitted with GPS systems to prevent misuse, complaints of water theft have persisted. Additional Commissioner M. J. Pradeep Chandran has instructed a review of the Water Supply Department and asked officials to trace exactly where the tankers are going, given the rising summer heat.
