Pune: PMC Officials Visit Ganga Kingston Society Amid Alarming Water Contamination Concerns in Mohammadwadi-NIBM Annexe

Pune | September 30, 2025: In response to growing concerns over water contamination and poor drainage infrastructure, top officials from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) visited Ganga Kingston Society in the Mohammadwadi–NIBM Annexe area on Friday afternoon to assess the on-ground situation and reassure residents of immediate corrective action.

The visit came after prominent social worker and resident Jaymala Dhankikar lodged a formal complaint with the Kalepadal Police Station, seeking an FIR against the PMC for its alleged inaction in preventing unauthorized dumping of construction debris into a natural nullah adjacent to the society. The nullah was allegedly filled with construction debris, including rubble, stones, and other waste materials, dumped by nearby real estate developers, which altered its natural course and led to severe drainage blockages.

Contaminated Drinking Water: A Threat to Public Health

According to Dhankikar, the issue escalated rapidly after water seepage was first noticed on September 18, and a formal complaint was submitted the following day. The illegal dumping caused rainwater and drainage water to mix, which in turn contaminated the society’s water storage tanks—posing a serious threat to the residents’ health.

“Builders have altered or completely filled up the natural nullah. This is not only illegal but extremely dangerous. It’s causing frequent flooding and the mixing of sewage with rainwater, which is directly seeping into our clean water sources,” Dhankikar said. “The health of the entire society is at stake. The PMC must act professionally and immediately. Notices should be issued to the erring developers who are releasing untreated drainage water onto the roads.”

PMC Officials Take Stock, Assure Swift Action

Following Dhankikar’s outreach to PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram, swift action was initiated. A high-level delegation including officials from the Health Department, Drainage Department, Building Permissions, and Solid Waste Management, as well as representatives of Raheja Builders, visited the society.

The officials interacted with residents and took detailed feedback from Dhankikar, who emphasized the urgent need for world-class drainage infrastructure in the locality to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

In a joint statement during the visit, the PMC officials assured residents that their concerns would be treated with utmost priority. “We understand the gravity of the situation. Water contamination is a serious issue. We will initiate remedial measures on a war footing,” a senior official said.

The Way Forward: Accountability and Infrastructure Overhaul

Residents of Ganga Kingston have demanded that PMC issue show-cause notices to the developers involved in altering the nullah’s natural course and take strict punitive action. Dhankikar further called for a comprehensive survey of natural drainage channels in the area, to be followed by desilting, restoration, and legal protection from encroachment.

The PMC has also promised to send water samples for lab testing, decontaminate affected water tanks, and draw up a sustainable infrastructure plan tailored to the needs of high-density residential pockets like Mohammadwadi–NIBM Annexe.

Background : 

Mohammadwadi-NIBM Annexe has seen a rapid surge in construction activity over the last decade, with numerous high-rise residential and commercial projects altering the area’s natural topography. Civic activists have repeatedly raised concerns over inadequate infrastructure, poor waste management, and ecological damage, but this latest incident has highlighted the immediate health risks posed by unchecked urban development.

What’s Next?
A follow-up inspection is expected within the next week, with PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram expected to review the action plan. Residents await visible changes and firm accountability, as Ganga Kingston’s crisis becomes a focal point for broader civic planning reforms in Pune’s ever-expanding suburbs.