1 week Ago
Pune: PMC has decided to introduce a new approval system with an aim to reduce misuse by contractual tanker operators . Contractors will not be allowed to undertake any trips without the permission of the civic administration. Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)'s tankers do around 1,000 fixed trips daily, while 400 trips are allowed for emergency requirement.
Previously, contractors could decide on emergency trips on their own. However, now the approval of water department engineers will be mandatory for these emergency trips. Citizens want even the trips of private tankers to be monitored.
They also demand strict vigilance on the rates. According to PMC data, there is likely to be a sharp rise is in demand for water tankers in a month as temperature goes up during summer. Civic officials said that they have been getting requests for tankers from Nagar Road, Satara Road, Hadapsar, and Dhayari.
The number of trips was around 36,000 in Dec, which reached 40,000 in Jan and around 42,000 in Feb. Resident said they are paying heavy property tax but not getting basic facilities like drinking water. The only option for them is to hire tankers and many operators are taking undue advantage of this situation.
"Our housing society is dependent on tankers. We have not seen any major improvement in water supply in our society. The situation is worsening day by day.
The demand is going up and supply is reducing. We have already spent huge sums on buying properties and now spending lakhs of rupees on water tankers," said Sanjay Dimble of Yewalewadi. Eleven villages were merged in 2017, while 23 were added in 2021.
Special attention must be given to the tankers in their areas. "Citizens living in the merged areas are highly dependent on tankers. This situation should not be capitalised for serving vested interests of some tanker owners.
The authorities concerned should develop the infrastructure for water supply and put it to use," said Shrirang Chavan of Haveli Taluka Nagri Kriti Samiti, a citizen group. Civic officials said that the data on private tankers is not available with the civic administration as they source the water from private wells or borewells. But on average, around 30,000 trips are made by these tankers monthly.
"The demand for tankers goes up during summer. The civic administration has given directives to the operators of tankers, so that citizens don't get misled. People can contact PMC in case of any complaint about tankers," said Nandkishor Jagtap, head of PMC's water supply department.
As of Tuesday, the four dams that provide water had 13.82 TMC water, around 47.5% of its capacity.
These dams had 13.01 TMC last year on March 25, which was around 45%..
