Pune News: PMC To Launch Pilot Project For Metered Water Billing In Residential Areas
Pune News: PMC To Launch Pilot Project For Metered Water Billing In Residential Areas
Property owners within the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) limits may soon begin receiving water bills based on actual usage, as the civic body plans to roll out a pilot project introducing metered billing for residential properties.
The initiative is part of PMC’s broader 24×7 water supply project. Officials have identified specific zones where the project has been fully implemented, and where over 90% of properties have functioning water meters. These zones will be part of the pilot phase. Depending on its success, the system may be expanded citywide.
“A proposal to enhance the implementation of water metering has been drafted and will be rolled out following the necessary approvals,” said MJ Pradeep Chandran, Additional Commissioner of PMC.
Currently, only commercial establishments are charged based on monthly consumption, while residential users pay a fixed water charge included in their annual property tax. The new plan aims to bring residential properties under the metered system to promote fair usage and discourage wastage.
PMC has earmarked 141 zones for the metered supply project, with nearly 80 already meeting the criteria for pilot implementation. Officials noted that consumption data from these areas indicates excessive usage—sometimes three times the standard benchmark.
According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the recommended water supply for urban areas is 135 litres per capita per day (lpcd). However, in the absence of metering, many properties reportedly exceed this limit significantly.
While the administration believes the move will lead to more efficient water management, citizens and activists have raised concerns.
Shantanu Inamdar, a resident of Kothrud, welcomed the step but emphasized the need for fairness. “All taxpayers, including those from slums and housing societies, should be treated equally. The city’s past record with property tax collection has shown preferential treatment to defaulters.”
Activists have slammed PMC. Instead of delivering on its assurances, PMC is now threatening residents with disconnection if they refuse meter installation. This sends the wrong message, they complained.
The rollout of the metered system has already faced delays. Since installation began eight years ago, only about 70% of the planned meters have been set up, with around 1.8 lakh meters installed to date. Setbacks have included public opposition and a shortage of semiconductor chips used in meter manufacturing.
Despite the challenges, PMC remains firm on implementing the pilot project and has urged residents to cooperate. In a recent warning, the civic body stated that non-cooperation with meter installation could lead to disconnection without prior notice.
