PUNE: The civic authority issued a show-cause notice and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on a manager/developer of VTP Aethereus for allegedly supplying contaminated water to residents at a complex in Mhalunge.
According to the notice, this action was prompted by complaints from residents, although the developer has stated that the issue has been resolved.
The notice from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) indicated: “As the municipal water supply system is not yet operational in the area, you provided a written assurance to the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA)/PMC that you would supply safe and potable water to residents at your expense until the municipal water supply began. However, residents have reported that the water provided is contaminated and unsafe, leading to health issues including waterborne diseases and skin disorders.”
Rahul Salunke, executive engineer of PMC’s water supply department, confirmed to TOI, “We have given the developer time to respond. Future actions will depend on their reply.”
The PMC’s directive includes an immediate halt to the supply of contaminated water: “You must provide potable water only from approved sources. A water testing report from a government-approved laboratory must be submitted within four working days. Additionally, a written explanation must be provided within the same timeframe regarding why legal action—including criminal charges, cancellation of permissions, and blacklisting—should not be taken.”
The developer issued a statement explaining: “VTP Aethereus acknowledges that a temporary disruption in water supply occurred due to technical issues at the water treatment plant. Upon learning of the residents’ concerns, our team took immediate corrective measures, and the issue has since been resolved.”
The statement further noted that as part of their quality assurance protocol, water samples were tested by an NABL-accredited laboratory, confirming compliance with all necessary standards and requirements.
