Anxious residents of merged areas demand dedicated water supply plans, strict vigil on tankers

Pune: Residents of 23 merged areas face a looming water crisis as Pune Municipal Corporation plans citywide precautionary supply cuts from next week. The shift to alternate-day supply has sparked anxiety in localities already getting water once in two or three days, with the residents fearing worsening chaos.Panicked, the residents have called on the civic administration to chart out a clear and area-specific water supply plan to ensure some level of predictability and avoid widespread distress during the next two months.Ashok Mate, who lives along Hadapsar-Manjari Road, said the water cut announcement only heightened concerns. “Areas beyond Hadapsar are already struggling with erratic water flow. If the supply is reduced further, we don’t know how people will cope. While PMC is working on water distribution projects in Manjari and surrounding localities, the ground reality remains grim. Many housing societies are forced to depend on daily water tanker deliveries just to get by,” he said.The frustration runs deeper in other merged zones. Sus resident Sanjay Patil said people were tired of unkept promises and unreliable supply. “We are already dealing with low pressure and irregular water supply. Imposing cuts here will only make things worse,” he said, urging the administration to exempt these areas altogether.In Lohegaon, the disappointment is even sharper. Four years after being incorporated into PMC limits, residents said basic infrastructure remained inadequate. “We were promised better water supply, but nothing has improved. Now it feels like things could go from bad to worse,” resident Ashok Sharma said.As fear of scarcity rises, so do concerns about exploitation. The residents worry that private tanker operators might seize the opportunity presented by supply cuts. Sachin Ubhe from Ambegaon said he feared artificial shortages could be created to drive up water tanker prices. "Tanker rates may shoot up and people will have no choice but to pay,” he said.Meanwhile, PMC officials maintained that they were not turning a blind eye to supply issues. "Zone-wise water management plans are being prepared, taking into account existing supply patterns. Areas already receiving alternate-day water will not face additional cuts,” an official said.But for thousands of residents staring at empty taps and uncertain days ahead, assurances alone may not be enough. “We, therefore, want the administration to monitor operations of water tankers and come out with a clear supply plan,” Ubhe added.