Pune Housing Federations to File FIRs Against Builders Over Water Supply Violations
Citizen groups and housing federations across Pune and its neighboring areas have decided to approach the police to register First Information Reports (FIRs) against developers who have violated water supply affidavits submitted while applying for building permissions. This move aims to hold builders accountable for failing to provide promised water infrastructure, which has forced residents to rely on expensive private tankers.
High Court-Monitored Meeting Spurs Action
The decision followed a crucial water supply review meeting held on Friday, chaired by Divisional Commissioner Chandrakant Pulkundwar. This meeting was convened under the directions of the Bombay High Court (PIL 126/2023) to address the metropolitan region's worsening water crisis. During the session, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials confirmed that water affidavits submitted by developers have finally been uploaded on its website, six months after the requirement was first raised.
However, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) are yet to comply with this directive. Both bodies have requested an additional month to complete the process of uploading these critical documents.
Legal Scrutiny and Criminal Action Planned
Advocate Satya Muley, representing several citizen groups, stated that a thorough scrutiny of these affidavits will begin immediately. "We will cross-check if builders are backing out of their legal responsibility to supply water to housing complexes at their own cost. If violations are found, we will assist societies in approaching the police in their respective areas to register FIRs within a month," Muley told TOI.
He emphasized that the high court-monitored task force, which includes officials from the PMC, PCMC, and PMRDA, has significantly empowered citizens. "The divisional commissioner has specifically directed us to help residents initiate criminal action where developers have left them in distress despite making written commitments during project approvals," Muley added.
Residents Voice Frustration Over Broken Promises
Residents from areas such as NIBM Annexe, Undri, and other fringe localities reported that many builders are not providing the water they originally assured. "Citizens invest their life's savings in homes only to end up paying exorbitant amounts for tanker water. The corporations must conduct stricter checks before sanctioning building plans," said one affected resident.
Vijay Sagar, a national executive member of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat, noted that developers have been submitting these affidavits since 2019 solely to obtain project sanctions. "Civic bodies accepted these documents without ensuring the actual water supply was feasible. We expect the authorities to now take a stand and file FIRs against these defaulting builders," Sagar said.
Strict Directives Issued by Divisional Commissioner
In response to the grievances, Divisional Commissioner Pulkundwar issued a series of strict directives to the PMC, PCMC, and PMRDA:
- Act against developers who fail to adhere to their water guarantee certificates.
- Take immediate action against tankers supplying contaminated water.
- Strictly implement the Maharashtra Groundwater Act and make borewell permissions mandatory.
- Ensure all water guarantee certificates are uploaded online for public access.
Citizen groups have also demanded that future building plans be denied approval unless an assured, sustainable water supply is already in place. This proactive measure aims to prevent similar crises in upcoming developments and ensure that residents are not left grappling with water shortages after investing in their homes.
