Pune Municipal Corporation’s Annual Expenditure On Water Tankers Soars to ₹ 80 Crore

Despite boasting four dams in its vicinity with a combined storage capacity of 30 TMC, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has incurred a staggering expenditure of ₹80 crore in the past year alone to address water scarcity by providing utility water tankers to various parts of the city.

Records from the tanker supply cell of the water department reveal an astounding 4.34 lakh water tanker trips made to fulfill the city’s water needs. Each tanker trip costs the PMC ₹2,000, paid to operators enlisted by the civic body for the task.

The situation has been exacerbated by the merging of 34 new villages with the PMC since 2017. Previously under the governance of the Pune Metropolitan and Regional Development Authority (PMRDA), these villages were expected to receive water supply from the PMRDA. However, complications arose when responsibility for water supply was shifted to builders during the construction of high-rise buildings in these areas. With the builders reneging on their obligations, the efficacy of PMRDA governance came into question. Now under the jurisdiction of the PMC, it falls upon the municipal corporation to provide water to these merged villages, further escalating the demand for water tankers.

The increased reliance on water tankers has been particularly evident during the summer season and various phases throughout the past year. Despite possessing ample water resources in the form of dams, the PMC’s expenditure on water tankers underscores the persistent challenges in ensuring equitable access to water for all residents of Pune.