Water scarcity makes Pune Housing societies take legal route

PIL  filed against various government departments in Bombay HC

Jigar Hindocha

Pune: A total of 11 housing society federations from Pune district have come together and filed a PIL in Bombay High Court against various government bodies as residents have been forced to suffer water scarcity.

The public interest litigation has been filed against Department of Water Resources, Union of India; Central Ground Water Board; Water resources department, State of Maharashtra; Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran; Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority; Pune Municipal Corporation; Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation; Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority and Zila Parishad Pune.

“This is not a political stunt. It is the voice of the common man who have been forced to deal with water scarcity. We get water every alternate day in PCMC even though there is ample water stock. In spite of raising multiple complaints, we are not getting 135 litres of water every day,” said Dattatray Deshmukh of PCMC housing societies federation.

The federations which have joined hands are Wagholi Housing Societies Association, Pune District Co-Operative Housing Societies and Apartments Federation, Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat, Pimpri-Chinchwad Co-operative Housing Societies Federation Ltd., Baner Pashan Link Road Welfare Trust, Balewadi Residency Co-operative Housing Welfare Federation Ltd, Dear Society Welfare Association, Bavdhan Citizens Forum, Hinjawadi Employees and Residents Trust, Aundh Vikas Mandal and Association of Nagar Road Citizens Forum.

Pune district has approximately 18,000 Co-operative Housing Societies, 15,000 Housing Apartment Complexes, apart from other types of residential premises.

Satya Muley, Advocate of Petitioners said, “One of the key prayer in the PIL is to seek direction from the Hon’ble High Court for the local authorities to supply 135 lphd through their pipelines or any other alternative method on an immediate basis as it is their fundamental duty under the constitution of India.”