Pune, 16 August 2025: In a strong directive aimed at addressing chronic water shortages, Divisional Commissioner Chandrakant Pulkundwar has ordered the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), and the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) to take criminal action against developers who fail to fulfill their water supply commitments.
The order came during a review meeting on Thursday, attended by representatives of nearly 250 housing societies from across Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, and PMRDA areas. Residents complained that while builders had promised adequate water through legally binding affidavits submitted at the time of construction approval, many never delivered, forcing societies to depend on private tankers.
Pulkundwar instructed all three civic bodies to publish these water affidavits on their official websites within a week. He stressed that making the documents public would allow residents to hold erring developers accountable and even file criminal cases against them.
He also expressed displeasure over the absence of the municipal commissioners of PMC and PCMC, as well as the PMRDA chief, warning that no further review meetings would be held without their presence.
Residents also voiced anger at the tanker water trade, alleging exorbitant rates and unsafe supplies. Officials assured that FIRs would be filed against any supplier found distributing contaminated water.
Advocate Satya Muley, representing several societies, said written representations would be submitted to civic authorities and confirmed that legal notices would be sent to the absent commissioners. He added that societies, along with local bodies, could now directly file FIRs against builders who default on their commitments.
PMC water department head Nandkishore Jagtap announced that names of defaulting developers would be published, followed by legal notices and FIRs. He also said a WhatsApp group would be set up to improve coordination between civic officials and society representatives ahead of the next review meeting.
The commissioner concluded by directing Muley to assist societies in pursuing legal action against builders who flout water affidavit conditions.