Pune: Residents of Ganga Kingston In NIBM Annexe Raise Alarm Over Contaminated Water Supply; PMC Inaction Under Fire
Pune: Residents of Ganga Kingston In NIBM Annexe Raise Alarm Over Contaminated Water Supply; PMC Inaction Under Fire
Pune: September 19, 2025: Over 1,300 residents of Ganga Kingston Society in NIBM Annexe, Mohammadwadi, are facing a serious health hazard due to alleged contamination of their drinking water. The cause, residents say, is the unchecked seepage of untreated drainage water from nearby constructions — including Sterling, Elina Living, and a few other influential builders — into a blocked nullah passing near the residential complex.
Jaymala Dhankikar, a social worker and resident of the society, has raised the issue multiple times with Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), but claims that no concrete action has been taken. “The nullah, which was meant to serve as a natural drain, has been blocked due to encroachments. As a result, dirty water is stagnating and seeping into our society’s drinking water storage. This is a direct threat to the health and well-being of more than 1,300 people, including senior citizens and children,” she said.
#Pune: Residents of #GangaKingston In #NIBM Annexe Raise Alarm Over Contaminated #WaterSupply; PMC Inaction Under Fire https://t.co/dQQqlx8nCa pic.twitter.com/2wHx7FKjFG
— Pune Pulse (@pulse_pune) September 19, 2025
Despite escalating the matter to the PMC Commissioner in April and again in May, followed by an on-site inspection in June, residents say the civic authorities have failed to act. “This is not just negligence; it’s endangering lives,” Dhankikar added.
According to the residents, the root of the problem lies in two departments: the Building Permission Department and the Anti-Encroachment Cell. They allege that illegal constructions have been permitted without proper drainage planning, and that the nullah, once a functioning outlet for stormwater and sewage, has now turned into a hazard due to rampant encroachment.
“The nullah was never meant to be a dumping ground for drainage water,” Dhankikar emphasized. “The fact that these influential builders have diverted their waste water into it, and that PMC has allowed encroachments to choke its flow, shows a serious lapse in governance.”
Residents of Ganga Kingston are already witnessing signs of waterborne diseases, and many have resorted to buying bottled water for daily needs. However, this is not a sustainable solution, they say. “Clean drinking water is a fundamental right, not a privilege. We are taxpayers. We expect basic services like safe water and sanitation to be guaranteed,” said Anzar Rade, another resident.
The issue also brings to the forefront broader concerns about urban planning and the need for stronger regulatory mechanisms. As Pune expands, citizens and experts alike are calling for more stringent oversight of real estate developments, particularly in rapidly urbanizing areas like NIBM Annexe.
Dhankikar, who has long been active in civic issues in the region, is urging PMC to take immediate corrective action. “We demand that the nullah be cleared of encroachments and restored to its original function. The illegal outlets pushing untreated water into it must be shut down. And PMC must ensure that clean drinking water is supplied to every household — without compromise.”
As the festive season approaches, residents fear that inaction could lead to a public health crisis. For now, their message to the civic authorities is clear: act before it’s too late.
