Pune Residents Condemn PMC's Inadequate Regulation of Water Tanker Operations
Residents and civic activists in Pune have strongly criticized the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for its failure to effectively regulate and monitor over 1,400 daily water tanker trips within its jurisdiction. This outcry follows recent fatal accidents in the NIBM-Undri area and Wanowrie, highlighting serious safety concerns.
GPS Tracking System Bypassed by Private Operators
Civic activists emphasized that enforcement remains dismal despite a mandate requiring GPS installation in tankers to track their movements. Many private operators allegedly bypass this tracking system, rendering it ineffective. Compounding the problem is the absence of functional speed governors in vehicles, which residents say allows for reckless driving in residential zones.
PMC Officials Defend Their Monitoring System
In contrast, PMC officials claimed a foolproof system is in place to monitor tankers. Nandkishor Jagtap, head of PMC's water department, stated, "The civic administration is taking strict action against those not using the GPS system. The PMC has started the process to blacklist the tanker services involved in accidents. Other options like installing breathalysers at tanker filling stations will be explored."
Tankers from contractors are permitted to fill water at designated points including:
- Ramwadi
- Swargate
- Bund Garden
- Patwardhan Baug
- Yerawada
- Chaturshrungi
- Pashan
The civic tankers make 1,400 trips daily, with 1,000 designated trips and 400 emergency trips.
Residents Report Deteriorating Service and Safety Issues
Residents of housing societies reported that water tanker service quality nosedives every summer, with reckless driving becoming a new worry. Tahir Shaikh, a resident of Undri, said, "Tanker drivers don't follow traffic norms."
Mohammad Saif, a resident of Kondhwa, called for stringent action against rash tanker drivers and their operators. He explained, "The political backing and vested interests of local leaders have made tanker operations a nuisance. Numerous drunk-driving cases have been reported against tanker drivers, but no stringent action has been taken. Many tankers are not fit for operations. The RTO should investigate this matter."
The situation underscores growing public frustration with PMC's regulatory oversight as safety concerns mount in Pune's residential areas.
