Pune Water Crisis Deepens as Tanker Strike Ends But Prices Soar
Pune residents in the NIBM Road–Undri belt faced a dual crisis this week, first from a disruptive tanker strike and then from surging prices and high demand as services resumed. The situation has laid bare the fragile water infrastructure in rapidly developing areas like Mohammadwadi, Undri, and Pisoli.
Infrastructure Lagging Behind Construction Boom
Rohan Gaikwad, a resident of Undri and general secretary of the NCP's Pune unit, highlighted the core issue. "Wednesday was a terrible situation, not just in Undri but across Mohammadwadi and Pisoli," he said. Gaikwad pointed out that explosive construction over the past decade has far outpaced municipal water connections. "Each sprawling society has 500-1,000 flats, all without Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) water supply. Even if overhead tanks function at full capacity, they will reduce tanker dependency by hardly 10-20%," he explained, advocating for regulated development until water infrastructure catches up.
Tanker Prices Spike Amid High Demand
While tanker services resumed after the strike was called off, the backlog of demand from the previous day led to a noticeable spike in prices. Pramod Borade, who operates a tanker service in Salunkhe Vihar, cited rising fuel costs as a primary factor. "We have increased prices by Rs100-200 to keep up. Rates vary depending on distance and frequency. Regular customers get lower prices, while others pay more," he stated. In Undri, typical rates range between Rs500 and Rs700, with 60-70 tanker trips made daily.
However, pricing is not uniform across all operators. Vinod Mhatre, a tanker operator on NIBM Road, revealed higher charges. "We charge between Rs1,000 and Rs1,200 depending on location and the commission we have to pay. Some society managers take a commission per tanker, and difficult routes with slopes and gradients also increase costs," he said.
Operators Acknowledge Challenges and Potential Overcharging
Tanker operators and drivers flagged the challenging terrain as a significant hurdle. Navigating steep gradients with heavy vehicles requires precision, but congested roads and erratic two-wheeler movements make it risky. Sushant Lonkar, who led Wednesday's strike, acknowledged the possibility of overcharging amid high demand. "There is a chance that some operators might be overcharging to prioritize certain societies. If it is happening, it is wrong, but we do not have a system to track it," he admitted. Lonkar noted that demand remained unusually high on Thursday as societies rushed to refill depleted reserves, but he expected the situation to stabilize by Friday.
Residents' Mixed Experiences and Long-Term Hopes
For some residents, the situation eased slightly. Sunil Koloti, a resident of Nyati Wind Chimes, reported receiving eight tankers on Tuesday night and three more on Thursday morning. "We have an agreement, so we were not charged extra. It is a relief that our tanks are full now, but we have been waiting for PMC water supply for years without any outcome," he said.
In contrast, Prabhakar Singh, chairman of Shakuntala Kanade Park in Undri, said water supply to all three buildings in their complex had yet to resume fully. "Since morning, eight tankers have come but more are needed. It is only after water comes to a certain level that supply can start going to homes. We hope that the situation normalizes by Friday," he explained.
Political Promises and Ongoing Struggles
Local corporator Nivrutti Bandal provided a glimmer of hope, stating that PMC officials have assured expedited pipeline work linked to overhead tanks in Mohammadwadi. "I will continue to follow up with PMC officials until this work is completed so that it does not remain another empty promise. For years, corporators have been pursuing the pipeline project, only to be met with repeated assurances that it will be done in a few months, yet little has changed on the ground," Bandal emphasized. As a resident himself, he understands the daily struggle of depending on tankers and has made this issue his top priority.
The recent events underscore a critical urban planning failure in Pune, where rapid development continues without adequate basic amenities, leaving thousands reliant on expensive and unreliable private water tankers.
