Pune: Around 250 housing societies in Wagholi are paying more for water tankers during this summer season. The tanker operators have increased rates for supplying water.
The residents are worried as it is adversely affecting their monthly budgets. They want immediate intervention of the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) and the Pune Zilla Parishad to keep tabs on tanker operators.
The residents said that their lifeline is private tanker operators, as the gram panchayat has failed to provide water to them.
Sanjeevkumar Patil, Director, Wagholi Housing Societies’ Association, said, “We have received a rate card from tanker operators. They have hiked the rate from Rs 400 to Rs 1,800 per tanker. The amount is very high and it will directly affect our monthly budgets. We are still trying to find a solution. We have asked PMRDA and Zilla Parishad to intervene in this matter. We have been assured by the gram panchayat that the tanker operators will not hike rates, but let see what happens.”
“The operators are out of its control and are enjoying a monopoly. As a result, the residents are compelled to pay whatever amount they charge,” he said.
The association has also written to PMDRA to look into the issue and stop giving permissions to new housing projects till the water problem is resolved.
The association has claimed that the local tanker operators were demanding additional money for supplying water through tankers provided by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).
Recently, a meeting was held in Mumbai under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. A budget of Rs 25 crore was approved for water supply to Wagholi area.
According to the Wagholi Housing Societies’ Association, they conducted a meeting on Wednesday. It was decided that they will hold a protest march against water tanker operators. “Some tanker operators are also forcing some societies to buy water from them. We are under threat,” said a member on the condition of anonymity.
