Pimpri Chinchwad Society Federation Challenges PCMC’s Water Supply Disconnection Plan, Urges Direct Municipality Involvement

The Chikhali-Moshi-Pimpri Chinchwad Housing Society Federation has opposed the decision of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) that management committees of societies must cut water connections of society flat owners whose property tax arrears are remaining to be paid. The Federation has asked the PCMC to cut the water connections from their own expense &, after the property tax arrears are paid, reconnect the water connections with immediate effect from their own expense.

Sanjeevan Sangale, President, Chikhali-Moshi-Pimpri Chinchwad Housing Society Federation, said “The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has issued a list of members of several societies of Pimpri Chinchwad whose property tax arrears are pending, to cut their water connections and a three-day deadline has been given to cut it. But as water is a basic right of the citizens, we are rejecting this demand of the Municipal Corporation and we & no management committee of any society will cut the water connection of any members. Hence, we demand that the municipal corporation should cut the water connection of such members of our societies, who haven’t paid pending property tax arrears, at the expense of the municipal corporation and then reconnect the water connections after payment of full property tax is done by them.”

As per further information from the request letter of Chikhali-Moshi-Pimpri Chinchwad Housing Society Federation to the PCMC accessed by Pune Pulse,

“Citing the High Court’s order regarding cutting water connections by PCMC of property tax arrears in many societies of Pimpri Chinchwad city, this responsibility has been put on the management committees of the societies. They are not defying the High Court’s decision but as per their understanding, water is a fundamental right of citizens.”

“In your (PCMC) letter, you have given 3 days’ time to the management committees of the societies to cut water connections. But we would like to humbly tell you that no society committee in Pimpri Chinchwad city will cooperate with you in this and also, will not oppose to cut water connections of members whose property tax arrears are pending.”

“Therefore, please cut the water connections of such members of the societies at the cost of the municipal corporation and, after paying the full property tax, their water connections should be restored at the cost of the municipal corporation. It should be noted that if and only if all these things are followed by the Municipal Corporation, then only the Federation will cooperate in cutting the water connections of society members.”

“Similarly, a year back, the water supply department of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation had carried out a campaign to cut off water connections of the entire societies due to pending property tax arrears of some members of the society. Any such illegal activity or campaign should not be carried out by the Municipal Corporation again, otherwise strong objection and protest will be staged through our Federation.”

Shreyas Vange