Pune: Residents of the Mahalunge, Maan and Hinjewadi areas have written to state water resources minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil on Nov 12, escalating concerns over increasing pollution in Mula river and the possibility of a severe water shortage in the coming summer.The Mahalunge Township Residents’ Association said that close to 10,000 home units in existing residential townships of the neighbourhood are already facing water shortages and had earlier complained of poor water quality, too. Meanwhile, new projects are being permitted to set up jackwells and draw water from the same source.Their concerns are exacerbated even as authorities mull more and more stringent water cuts in the absence of adequate rainfall this year and looming drought, attributed to the El Nino phenomenon.“Several residential projects in the area do not receive regular direct public water supply, leaving them dependent on raw river water, private extraction facilities and water tankers,” said IT professional Amit Kute, a resident of the locality.Ankush Padale, another IT professional and Mahalunge resident, pointed out, “Authorities are giving permission for new residential projects even though water supply to existing ones is not yet secured. More homes are being built in Mahalunge without proper water supply. Whatever little water is being supplied is of poor quality. Govt must work towards resolving this issue.”Residents have reported receiving yellowish and foul-smelling tap water in some housing societies since late Sept this year. The residents’ association has also sought immediate testing of Mula river water upstream and downstream of the water extraction points serving the Mahalunge and Blue Ridge Township areas. It has further urged govt to investigate whether untreated domestic sewage or industrial effluents are being discharged into the river, and to make water quality reports publicly available.The residents have also sought a comprehensive water balance study covering river availability, approved and actual extraction by projects, existing consumption and future demand. They have demanded disclosure of the number of extraction permissions granted, their daily approved quantities and the conditions imposed to maintain minimum environmental flow.They have asked for a joint inspection by the water resources department, Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), a review of fresh extraction permissions, and an alternative water supply plan before the next summer.“People are not opposed to development. But protection of residents’ access to safe and adequate drinking water is a must,” Kute added.The entire area is overseen by multiple authorities. A Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) official, requesting anonymity, told TOI, “Ensuring water supply involves coordination between govt agencies and developers. While residents have raised concerns over availability of water, a comprehensive and coordinated approach is needed to address the issue and ensure a reliable supply for the affected population.”
