Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has proposed to provide legal water connections to unauthorised buildings. This decision, aimed at addressing widespread issues of illegal water access, comes with the stipulation that building owners must pay a fee and submit an affidavit agreeing not to seek construction approval using the water connection as leverage.Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Bhosale outlined the proposal in a recent standing committee meeting. “Owners seeking a water connection for an illegal structure must submit ownership documents, the latest tax receipt, and an Aadhaar card along with their application. It must be understood that granting a water connection does not legalise the structure itself. This condition must be confirmed in an affidavit to the PMC,” he stated.
The initiative also extends to regularising existing illegal water connections. Building owners who have already tapped into water supplies illicitly will be required to pay a fine to legalise their connections. The PMC justifies this move by recognising water as an essential resource, which all citizens are entitled to access through legal means. The newly incorporated areas within the PMC’s jurisdiction have numerous buildings lacking completion certificates, leading to rampant illegal water connections.Complicating matters, many properties are inherited, with current owners often lacking proper documentation to apply for a water connection. Additionally, property disputes among family members further hinder the legal procurement of water supply.
Bhosale emphasised that providing legal water connections would reduce the number of illegal connections and mitigate the associated financial losses for the PMC. “By legalising water connections for unauthorised buildings, we can increase civic revenue and accurately measure water consumption across the city,” he noted.This policy is anticipated to bolster the PMC’s revenue streams while ensuring a more structured and legal approach to water distribution. As Pune continues to grow and incorporate new areas, effective water management and equitable access to resources remain critical challenges for urban governance. The PMC’s initiative represents a pragmatic step towards resolving these issues, albeit with a clear boundary set against the retrospective regularisation of unauthorised constructions.The new policy reflects an attempt to balance regulatory compliance with the practical needs of residents, ensuring that essential services like water supply are accessible to all, regardless of the legal status of their dwellings. This nuanced approach underscores the PMC’s commitment to improving urban infrastructure while navigating the complexities of unauthorised development.
