Water scarcity ups demand for supply through tankers in Pune

Pune: On the background of water scarcity, the demand for private water tankers has increased in the city and their rates have increased. 

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) says it is unaware of instances where private tankers overcharge people. However, the budgets of housing societies which are totally dependent on tanker water have gone up. Tanker water suppliers justify their prices, saying they have to recover expenses. 

Despite a mechanism put in place by the PMC administration to curb overpricing by private tankers, city-based tanker lobbies are taking advantage of the water crisis in the city. 

However, no representative of housing societies is ready to come on record to admit that overcharging by water tankers is rampant. 

According to PMC statistics, the corporation’s water tanker trips has increased from 100 to 150 to 250 to 300 trips per day from April. 

There are two types of water, which tanker owners supply. One is bore water and other is corporation drinking water, and rates of both have increased. Rs 600 is charged for bore water whereas Rs 1,200 is charged for drinking water. 

Yogendra Gupta, a member of Graficon Paradise Society from NIBM Road Residents Forum, said, “We were taking 6 tankers daily for Rs 600 per tanker. From month of April, tanker owner has increased rates to Rs 700. Due to this, our society water budget increased.” 

A member of a society in Viman Nagar area said, “We are taking five tankers for drinking purpose. We were paying Rs 1,200 per tanker. After water crisis, rates increased by Rs 200.” 

Dilip Kurne, owner of Shri Swami Samarth Water Tanker Supplier admitted that a very few tanker owners are doing it, but don’t blame everyone for charging extra money for water. He said. “The PMC Water Supply Department has increased water tanker rates from Rs 450 to Rs 522 for drinking water. Our profit margin has decreased. We are charging Rs 1,300 to 1,350 for 10,000 litres capacity tankers.” 

He said, “If we increase water rates, people say we are taking advantage of the water crisis situation. The PMC has failed to provide water to people. So, we are supplying water to people by charging certain amount. We have given all tankers to the PMC to supply water to people. ”

No Water
Kondhwa, Wanawadi, Viman Nagar, Kharadi, Ambegaon, Mohammadwadi, some part of the Dhankawadi, Sasane Nagar etc are areas where water scarcity is a problem. People are totally dependent on tanker water for usage as well as drinking as there is no adequate supply of water by the PMC due to lack of infrastructure.