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PMC’s Water Amnesty Scheme Gets Poor Response Despite 2 Lakh Illegal Connections

22 Apr 2025

The Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) amnesty scheme aimed at regularising illegal water connections has seen a dismal response, with only 130 residents coming forward in nearly four months. This is despite an estimated 2 lakh illegal water connections across the city, mostly in slum areas. Civic officials admit they face significant hurdles such as political pressure, which hampers action against such connections. While PMC has disconnected 835 illegal taps so far, officials note that many residents simply reconnect them illegally. Previous efforts in 2021 also failed to garner adequate participation, with just 500 regularisations — none from commercial setups.

Civic activists and residents alike have expressed frustration over the situation, highlighting the unfairness faced by those who pay taxes but receive inadequate water supply, while illegal users enjoy uninterrupted access. This time, PMC has removed earlier restrictions, allowing regularisation even in illegal properties. Ward-wise teams have been deployed to detect and address illegal taps, especially in areas reporting low water pressure. However, citizens’ groups argue that the PMC lacks the political will to enforce rules strictly, allowing the problem to persist without any real deterrence.

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