Pune Corporators Protest Contaminated Water Supply in Wadgaonsheri
Corporators from the Nagar Road area staged a protest at the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) headquarters on Monday, highlighting the persistent issue of yellowish and foul-smelling water supply in several localities under the Wadgaonsheri constituency. Residents have been grappling with this problem for nearly a month, despite lodging repeated complaints with the authorities.
The affected areas include Dhanori, Tingrenagar, Nagpur Chawl, Shanti Nagar, Vimannagar, and Wadgaonsheri itself, which fall under four municipal wards. Corporator Suhas Tingre stated, “These areas are already facing water scarcity, and the contaminated supply has exacerbated the situation. We urge the administration to resolve this issue urgently.”
PMC Commissioner Responds
After accepting a memorandum from the protesters, PMC commissioner Naval Kishore Ram assured action, saying, “Our experts are visiting the affected areas, and a delegation of civic officials will also inspect the ground situation. The issue will be resolved within the next couple of days.”
Former deputy mayor and area resident Siddharth Dhende emphasized the health risks posed by the contaminated water. He warned, “The water we are consuming is highly unsafe and could lead to serious health problems. Residents have already filed several complaints.”
Echoing similar concerns, corporator Sheetal Sawant demanded that PMC refrain from imposing water cuts in the affected areas until the problem is resolved. She added, “Strict action must be taken against the responsible officials.”
Root Cause Identified
Civic officials attributed the contamination to disruptions in pumping operations caused by frequent power outages on the Chakan-Karanjvihire power line, which supplies electricity to the pumping station and water treatment plant of the Bhama Askhed project. They clarified that water leaving the treatment plant is fully purified, but contamination occurs further along the distribution pipeline.
Last week, the mayor’s office conducted a meeting and site visit to assess the situation. The mayor emphasized the need for a comprehensive inspection of the entire water supply system, from the treatment plant to the distribution network, and called for scientific testing of water samples collected from residential areas.
Residents continue to demand immediate action, hoping for a swift resolution to ensure access to clean and safe drinking water.
