Plumbers demand Rs50,000 for home water connection in Mohammadwadi area

Pune: Rs50,000 for PMC water to flow from overhead tanks to taps in homes.Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)-appointed contractors and plumbers quoted this astronomical amount for pipeline connection to homes in Mohammadwadi, parts of Undri and NIBM Annexe Road area. Residents of housing societies in these pockets, set to get the PMC's water connection, cried fleecing on Saturday in a meeting with the PMC officials of the Camp office. They demanded a cap on the cost for water connection."There needs to be a water connection for every 25 flats. We have been paying water tax to the PMC for years without getting water. Now, water is set to flow, but perils are not over," a resident said.After the meeting, Kishor Baligar, the secretary of Dorabjee Paradise Bungalow Society, said, "We contacted a PMC-listed contractor-cum-plumber for the job. He demanded Rs50,000 per connection. Why should we pay such a huge amount? Shouldn't there be a cap on it? Then why were we taxed for years despite not having water ? This is a serious matter and needs immediate intervention.""The PMC officials told us that every work pertaining to pipelines had a rate fixed by the PMC. But strangely, they said, we have to negotiate the charge with the plumber or the contractor. These people are fleecing many of us and the PMC isn't taking the responsibility. Some of these plumbers told us that the money goes ‘to everyone' and they are helpless. This is fleecing people struggling for water for years," another resident said, requesting anonymity.Social worker and NIBM Annexe Road resident Jaymala Dhankikar and Tara Singh, the president of Anandvan Parisar Residents' Foundation, said they would initiate a meeting with assistant municipal commissioner Pavneet Kaur on plumbers overcharging residents. "There needs to be a solution. We will discuss the matter in detail with the official possibly next week," Dhankikar said.Many residents asked the PMC officials why so many (10) documents were needed for the water connection and what to do if some documents were missing. The PMC officials said these issues should be presented before senior officials for a solution.Many residents requested the PMC officials for the map to know exactly in which areas water would be supplied.A PMC official of the Pune Camp office said, "As far as water supply is concerned, the pipeline works are on and water has reached the tanks. Once the proper supply starts, the water coming into the tanks will be tested thoroughly. Then water will start flowing into homes. The whole process should take a fortnight."