Pimpri Chinchwad civic body cuts water supply to 5 housing societies over defunct sewage treatment plants; residents call action unfair

Pune: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has in the last two days disconnected water supply to five housing societies amid its crackdown on those who failed to make sewage treatment plants operational despite repeated warnings.These five were among the 50 societies that had been served three notices in the last one year, a civic official said. "We also shared details about agencies that could help them repair such defunct plants, but they still did not comply with this mandatary provision." The unified development control and promotion regulations stipulate that housing projects with a built-up area of 20,000 square metres or more are required to set up STPs and use treated water for non-potable purposes such as in gardens, toilets, and for cleaning. During a survey conducted earlier this year, PCMC identified 456 buildings that come under this rule. Of these, 264 societies have functional STPs, while 184 do not. Civic staff were allegedly denied entry to eight housing societies.So far, 84 societies have received their first notice, while a second one has been served on 50. Another 50 societies had been issued a third and final notice, following which they initiated action, civic officials said and added that the remaining ones will have their water connections cut soon.Residents, however, say the STPs were either of poor quality or non-functional when they were handed over by developers. Now, they are being unfairly punished for lapses committed by builders and overlooked by the civic body, they say.Silver Satyam Cooperative Housing Society at Jadhavwadi in Chikhali was one of the three whose water supply was snapped on Monday. Its chairman Arpan Banerjee said the STP had been non-functional ever since they got the possession of the 86-flat society in 2019. "In the last six years, we have repeatedly raised this issue with the builder. Each time, he assured us that it would be fixed, but nothing happened. We even sought help from local politicians and they even tried to intervene, but in vain." The society administration had to arrange water tankers to meet daily needs, Banerjee said. " We are paying the price for a fault that is not ours in the first place."A similar situation unfolded at Sahyadri Shrubbery Housing Society at Borhadewadi in Moshi, which also faced the civic action on Monday. The society with five wings consisting of around 298 flats too has a similar story. Santosh Vetal, secretary of E wing, said, "It was handed over in 2021, and the STP was not operational even then. The issue remains unresolved till date despite talking to the builder about it on multiple occasions."Vishal Bhoite from C wing said they got possession in 2018 but when they pointed to the non-functional STP, the builder said it was in working condition.Chikhali-Moshi Pimpri Chinchwad Housing Societies Federation said they will strongly protest if PCMC goes ahead with disconnecting supply as water is a fundamental right."It is the responsibility of PCMC's building permission and environment department to ensure STPs are functional before granting NoCs or completion certificates to developers, but they never inspect these facilities. Our repeated appeal to the corporation in this regard failed to bring the desired result. Now, residents are being penalised," federation chairman Sanjeevan Sangle said, adding the civic body does not act against builders because they have political links.Sanjay Kulkarni, city engineer and head of PCMC's environment department, said the housing societies were issued three notices and given sufficient time to activate their STPs. "But, most societies failed to comply. If residents had objections or concerns, they should have approached us earlier." If a complaint is received against a builder, the civic body conducts hearings and issues appropriate orders, Kulkarni said. "But for that to happen, the society members need to formally approach us."