E-Paper
PMC begins special drive to disconnect illegal, overdue water connections
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) water supply department has begun taking action on defaulters who don’t pay water taxes
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) water supply department has begun taking action on defaulters who don’t pay water taxes. At present, the PMC has disconnected around 50 water connections so far. Till date, the PMC collected dues of more than ₹100 crore in the disconnection drive.
As per PMC statistics, there are more than 1.50 lakh water connections in the city. The illegal water connection numbers are more than 50,000.
The number of legal connections is less because most are provided to housing societies. On the other hand, illegal water connections are at individual households.
According to the department, the outstanding is more than ₹600 crore and most of the defaulters are complaining about billing problems.
Under the 24x7 water supply project, the corporation installed around 40,000 water meters in commercial and residential areas. Some of the defaulters belong to newly installed water meter areas.
Due to Covid-19 pandemic, the PMC was not able to start the disconnection drive last year, after the unlock process started; the PMC began sending notices to defaulters.
Until February 2021, the PMC collected around ₹80 crore from water taxes.
In the last year’s annual budget, the PMC had set a target of ₹261 crore, however, the civic body was able to collect only ₹100 crore in the financial year 2020-21.
Aniruddha Pawaskar, PMC chief superintendent, water supply department said, “We are conducting a special drive to disconnect the water supply to collect outstanding water. Till date, we disconnected around 50 water connections of major outstanding establishments which include commercial and some residential societies.”
“We have collected more than ₹100 crore so far. The action will continue in the new financial year. We have sorted out a list of major defaulters which includes some of the government organizations. Now, we will send notices to them and give some time to settle down the problem, “he added.
