Pune: Faulty Meter At Patwardhan Baug Tanker Point Raises Questions Over Free Water Supply Transparency
Pune: Faulty Meter At Patwardhan Baug Tanker Point Raises Questions Over Free Water Supply Transparency
Pune, April 27, 2026:
Irregularities in the functioning of a water tanker filling point at Patwardhan Baug in Erandwane have sparked concerns over transparency and accountability in Pune’s free water supply system.
Pune city in the past one month is under limelight due to various accidents causing due to water tankers.
In a recent inspection at one of the tanker point, it was revealed that the water meter has been non-functional since December 16, 2025. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) supplies “free water” to citizens through tankers from this point, especially to societies and localities facing water shortages, with operations managed by an appointed contractor.
According to Sandeep Khardekar, President of Creative Foundation, the Patwardhan Baug tanker point caters to a large area covering wards 10, 11, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33. However, with the meter not working, there is no accurate way to determine how many tankers have been filled or how much water has been distributed.
Khardekar also recalled that vigilant citizens had earlier exposed discrepancies at tanker points. In one such instance, a covert recording revealed that while only 18 tanker entries were recorded in the register, nearly 50 tankers were actually filled. Following this, meters were installed at tanker points to ensure accountability.
He has now demanded clarification from Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram on how water usage is being monitored in the absence of a functioning meter. Another concern highlighted was the lack of acknowledgment signatures from beneficiaries on registers or delivery challans, raising further doubts about the credibility of the free tanker system.
Khardekar has urged the civic body to immediately inspect all tanker points across the city, ensure that meters are operational, and mandate recipient signatures on delivery documents. He also stressed the need to maintain records specifying the reasons and authority behind dispatching free water tankers to prevent misuse.
Raising broader concerns, Khardekar questioned how the PMC plans to maintain and monitor lakhs of water meters once the proposed 24×7 water supply system is implemented, if existing meters remain non-functional for months. He has called for the immediate establishment of a robust mechanism for regular inspection and repair of water meters in preparation for the future system.
