Pune: Mohammadwadi Residents Allege Water Connection ‘Loot’ As Contractors Demand ₹50,000 From Housing Societies

Pune, May 9, 2026: Serious allegations of overcharging and contractor malpractice surfaced during a Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) awareness meeting on new water connections in Mohammadwadi, where residents accused contractors of demanding nearly ₹50,000 from housing societies for basic water connection work.

The awareness meeting, organised by the Water Supply Department of Pune Municipal Corporation at ARV Ganga Kingston Society in Mohammadwadi, witnessed participation from more than 50 housing societies from the area.

Residents and society representatives strongly questioned why citizens are being forced to pay huge amounts for water connections despite regularly paying water tax through property tax for several years.

Speaking during the meeting, Tara Singh from Imperial Towers Society alleged that contractors are demanding nearly ₹50,000 for providing a water connection. She questioned how housing societies are expected to bear such high expenses and said it is the responsibility of the PMC to resolve the issue.

Advocate Kishor Baligar, Secretary of Dorabjee Paradise Bungalow Society, made serious allegations regarding an alleged nexus between contractors, civic officials and local representatives. He claimed contractors are sending quotations charging ₹50,000 “per hole” for water connection work, calling the practice completely illegal.

Baligar also questioned why residents are being asked to pay additional money despite paying water tax to PMC through property tax for the last 11 years.

“We have been paying taxes diligently every year. Where has that money gone? Why is PMC not using the same funds to provide water connections now? Residents of Mohammadwadi were deprived of PMC water supply for years. Even after the Dorabjee water tanks have become operational, many societies are still not receiving regular water supply,” he said.

Col (Retd) Sanjay Borse, secretary, Sainik Vihar said, “PMC should clarify the exact charges and also the rates should be uniformed for everyone. The rates the contractor is quoting are exorbitant. 

Rajesh Shinde, executive engineer, water supply department, Pune Municipal Corporation said, “The charges for road excavation which are applicable in purview of PMC are published on the website. Citizens have also been given the contact list of the authorised plumbers. They need to verify the proposals before sanctioning the final one.”  

In a startling moment during the meeting, one of the attendees openly stated that the amount collected from societies gets distributed among several people and claimed that contractors themselves earn very little from it. The statement triggered outrage among residents present at the session.

PMC officials, however, clarified that the purpose of the meeting was to guide societies regarding the official process for obtaining new water connections.

Pravin Kalamkar, Junior Engineer from the PMC Water Supply Department, said that more than 50 societies participated in the meeting and were informed about the required procedures and documentation for securing new water connections.

He further stated that PMC officials would assist societies in obtaining required documents if builders fail to provide them.

According to the public notice issued by the Office of the Executive Engineer, Water Supply Department, the water distribution system from the Dorabjee water tank is currently functioning properly. The awareness session was organised to educate residents about the process and functioning of the new water connection system.