PUNE: Citizen groups and housing federations in Pune and surrounding areas are planning to file FIRs against developers who have breached water supply affidavits when seeking building permits.
The initiative seeks to hold builders accountable for failing to deliver the promised water infrastructure, which has left residents dependent on private tanker services.
This decision emerged from a water supply review meeting on Friday, chaired by divisional commissioner Chandrakant Pulkundwar. The meeting was held following directives from the Bombay High Court (PIL 126/2023) aimed at tackling the escalating water crisis in the metropolitan region.
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials confirmed that water affidavits submitted by developers have finally been made available on its website, six months after the initial requirement was introduced. However, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) have not yet complied and have requested an additional month to finalize the process.
Advocate Satya Muley, representing several citizen organizations, stated that a comprehensive review of these affidavits will commence immediately. “We will verify if builders are neglecting their legal obligation to supply water to housing complexes at their own expense. If any violations are detected, we will support societies in approaching the police to file FIRs within a month,” Muley informed TOI.
He emphasized that the task force monitored by the high court, which includes officials from the PMC, PCMC, and PMRDA, has significantly empowered citizens. “The divisional commissioner has expressly instructed us to assist residents in taking legal action against developers who have failed them despite making written assurances during project approvals,” Muley added.
Residents from NIBM Annexe, Undri, and other outlying areas reported that many builders are not providing the water they initially assured. “Homebuyers invest their life savings only to face exorbitant tanker water costs. Civic authorities must conduct stricter checks before approving building plans,” remarked one resident.
Vijay Sagar, a national executive member of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat, pointed out that developers have been submitting these affidavits since 2019 merely to gain project approvals. “Civic bodies accepted these documents without verifying the feasibility of actual water supply. We expect authorities to take action and file FIRs against these non-compliant builders,” Sagar stated.
In response to the complaints, divisional commissioner Pulkundwar issued a series of stringent directives to the PMC, PCMC, and PMRDA. These include taking immediate action against developers who do not comply with their water guarantee certificates, addressing issues with tanker water contamination, enforcing the Maharashtra Groundwater Act, making borewell permissions compulsory, and ensuring that all water guarantee certificates are publicly accessible online.
Citizen groups have also called for future building plans to be denied unless a sustainable water supply is guaranteed from the outset.
