Citizens Succeeded Where Netas Failed: Mohamadwadi And Undri Finally Get Water After 25 Years
Citizens Succeeded Where Netas Failed: Mohamadwadi And Undri Finally Get Water After 25 Years
Renuka Suryavanshi
Pune, May 16, 2026: The inauguration of the overhead water tanks and completion of the long-awaited Katraj-to-Mohamadwadi water pipeline project may finally bring relief to thousands of residents living in Undri, Mohamadwadi and nearby areas. However, behind the celebrations and political claims surrounding the project lies a long and painful story of citizen struggle, civic neglect and years of relentless public pressure that ultimately forced authorities to act.
Pune Pulse has been in the struggle ever since the foundation for the overhead water tanks was laid. It has seen and reported the struggle faced by the residents of the area who are relied on private water tankers for fulfilling their daily water demands.
The real task for Undri hilltop and other Undri areas begin as there is totally absence of pipeline network in the area which now needs to be build.
In recent days, political parties and both former and current elected representatives have begun competing to claim credit for the water infrastructure project. But for many citizens living in the area for over two decades, the real credit belongs to the residents who continuously raised their voices despite years of inaction.
For locals, the moment is not merely about inaugurating water tanks. It is also tied to painful memories of public anger and growing frustration after tragic incidents in the area pushed residents to unite and demand accountability from the administration. What followed was a sustained civic movement that brought together citizens from Mohamadwadi, Undri, NIBM Road and surrounding localities.
Mohamadwadi was merged into the limits of the Pune Municipal Corporation nearly 25 years ago, while Undri was later included in PMC jurisdiction in 2017. Despite becoming part of the city and paying increasing property taxes year after year, residents continued to remain heavily dependent on private water tankers for their daily needs. Basic civic infrastructure such as proper roads, drainage systems, waste management, footpaths and safe public amenities remained severely inadequate.
The turning point came between 2023 and 2026, when citizen groups and residents’ forums intensified pressure on civic authorities over worsening infrastructure conditions and growing safety concerns. In April 2025, more than 400 residents participated in a major silent protest organised by the Mohamadwadi Undri Residents Welfare Development Foundation and NIBM Undri Road Residents Forum, highlighting decades of civic neglect and demanding urgent intervention from the PMC.
The protest drew attention to a wide range of unresolved issues, including lack of potable water supply, dangerous road conditions, drainage failures, traffic congestion, encroachments and poor waste management. Residents from societies across Undri, Mohamadwadi, Pisoli, NIBM Road and Kondhwa joined the movement demanding basic urban infrastructure despite paying substantial taxes for years.
Many residents stated during the agitation that multiple elected representatives over the last decade failed to push the project forward due to lack of political will and administrative urgency. According to locals, the water supply project remained delayed for years despite repeated appeals and complaints.
Citizens now believe that continuous public pressure and collective mobilisation compelled the civic administration to finally prioritise the long-pending project.
Among the officials who have received appreciation from residents for accelerating the work are PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram, Additional Commissioner Pavneet Kaur, Water Department Head and Chief Engineer Nandkishor Jagtap along with their respective teams. Residents say their intervention helped move the project from years of paperwork and promises to actual execution on the ground.
While the completion of the water tanks and pipeline marks a significant milestone for the region, many residents believe this is only the beginning. Citizens continue to hope that the same urgency will now be shown in resolving other long-pending civic issues affecting the rapidly growing suburbs of South Pune.
