Pune Irrigation Department Issues Rs 143 Crore Notice to PCMC Over Water Dues and Sewage Treatment
The irrigation department in Pune has escalated a long-standing dispute by issuing a formal notice to the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), demanding a staggering Rs 143 crore towards pending water supply dues and penalties. The notice explicitly warns of snapping the water supply if the substantial dues remain unpaid, citing alleged inadequate sewage treatment practices by the civic body.
Allegations of Overdrawing and Sewage Treatment Deficiencies
In its strongly worded letter, the irrigation department has accused PCMC of drawing water beyond its officially sanctioned quota, a claim that civic officials have firmly denied. Furthermore, sources within the department allege that PCMC is treating only 275 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage against its installed capacity of 345 MLD across ten sewage treatment plants (STPs) operational in the city. This significant shortfall, they argue, results in untreated water being discharged into local rivers, contributing to environmental pollution.
PCMC's Response and Ongoing Disputes Over Billing
A senior PCMC official acknowledged receipt of the notice but clarified that the demand includes several disputed charges. Pramod Ombhase, the city engineer and head of PCMC's water supply department, stated, "Such notices have been received in the past as well, and we have consistently raised objections. The dispute over billing has been an ongoing issue for the past few years." Officials from PCMC's water supply department highlighted a specific grievance: the irrigation department has been levying 3% of total water consumption under the industrial category, which they assert is not applicable to the corporation.
An official explained, "PCMC supplies water primarily for domestic use and limited commercial purposes such as hotels, hospitals, and small businesses. Bulk industrial supply is managed by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). Therefore, applying industrial charges to our operations is fundamentally incorrect."
Financial Strain and Escalating Water Charges
The official further revealed that the irrigation department has nearly doubled raw water charges over the past three years, attributing this increase to alleged pollution from untreated sewage discharge. This sharp rise has significantly inflated the civic body's annual expenditure on water supply. "The annual bills have escalated from approximately Rs 25 crore to Rs 75 crore, a hike we believe is unjustified," the official emphasized. Currently, PCMC spends nearly Rs 400 crore annually on comprehensive water supply operations, encompassing maintenance and infrastructure augmentation.
Water Supply Infrastructure and Future Allocations
PCMC currently sources 520 MLD of water from the Pavana dam and an additional 100 MLD from the Andra dam. Due to a shortage in water allocation, citizens receive water on an alternate-day basis. Earlier reports indicate that the city requires between 720 to 750 MLD to adequately meet its needs. To address this gap, the civic body has received a sanctioned volume of an additional 167 MLD from the Bhama Askhed dam, though work on a direct pipeline is still underway. PCMC has also proposed further water allocation from the Mulshi dam, pending approval from the state government.
Discussions between PCMC and the irrigation department are actively ongoing to resolve these contentious issues, aiming to avert a potential water supply disruption that could impact millions of residents.
