Pune: Incomplete work on a pipeline has prevented supply of water to around 15 overhead water storage tanks in the areas of Mohammadwadi, Undri and parts of Kondhwa. While PMC says it has completed laying of the pipeline in maximum stretches, the work is still pending along around 150m on Katraj-Kondhwa Road, for which officials cited “various technical difficulties”. Now, the civic administration is working on some options to finish laying of this pipeline before the monsoon kicks in this year.Once ready, water supply to the said areas will improve due to the overhead tanks, with residents set to receive water for more hours and at adequate pressure. At present,these localities are facing a major challenge of inadequate water supply, leaving hundreds of housing societies totally dependent on private water tankers for their daily requirements.An official from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) water supply department, preferring anonymity, said, “The water transmission line in questions comes from the Katraj-Kondhwa area. There are multiple challenges in finishing the project. Road digging is not possible as the stretch already has some establishments and houses. Hard rock underneath has posed an additional challenge, too. PMC is also widening this stretch. So, we are working on various technical options. A breakthrough is expected in the next few days.”Work began on this pipeline at least two years ago under the ambitious 24×7 water supply project for Pune. The civic official added that PMC is supplying water to Mohammadwadi, Undri, NIBM Road and parts of Kondhwa through alternative sources till pipeline work is completed, for which they are aiming for a June 2026 deadline. However, the project is expected to significantly improve water supply, with an estimated population of around one lakh to benefit after the pipeline starts functioning at full capacity.According to local residents, their water supply situation has remained in the doldrums despite repeated followups with civic authorities. Resident Arun Raste said they keep receiving hollow assurances from officials. “People are spending huge sums of money on tankers for daily water needs. Moreover, this tanker traffic is proving deadly for road users now. Recent fatal accidents are the result of this reckless movement,” he pointed out.Bhushan Shah, another resident, echoed, “Besides completion of the pending pipeline work, PMC also needs to monitor water tankers movement in the area to avoid accidents.”Local corporator Nivrutti Bandal said he plans to take up the issue of water availability with the civic administration. “We will seek a detailed plan on pending infra works relating to water supply and availability in the area. We will ask PMC to finish these works within deadlines to reduce hardships for residents,” he said.Avoid overflowing storage tanks to prevent water wastage: PMC to housing societies across cityMeanwhile, PMC has issued an appeal to housing societies across the city to keep watch on overflowing storage tanks in their premises leading to water wastage. The PMC’s water supply department said that during a recent drive in the Bund Garden Road area, civic teams found many overflowing water storage tanks in housing societies, observing that the float valves installed in tanks were non-functional. The appeal has been circulated mainly to conserve water during the summer season.
