Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is set to relaunch its amnesty scheme aimed at regularizing unauthorized water connections across the city. The resurgence of this initiative comes amidst alarming reports suggesting that Pune currently harbors approximately 450,000 illegal water connections, posing significant challenges to the city’s water management infrastructure.
The decision to reintroduce the amnesty scheme follows the PMC’s earlier attempt in 2021, which garnered a lukewarm response with only 500 out of the estimated 450,000 illegal connections opting for regularization. This time, however, the revamped scheme seeks to broaden its scope by including connections associated with illegally constructed properties—a departure from the previous eligibility criteria limited to legally approved properties. A senior official from the PMC’s water department confirmed the approval of the proposal by the PMC’s standing committee, signaling the imminent rollout of the scheme within the next week. The initiative is poised to provide a pathway for both residential and commercial property owners to legalize their unauthorized water connections upon payment of a one-time penalty. The alarming scale of illegal connections, nearly matching the number of legal connections in Pune which stands at 400,000, underscores the urgency of the situation. The proliferation of such connections not only strains the city’s water supply but also poses challenges in revenue collection and infrastructure planning.
Commenting on the rationale behind the revised scheme, a PMC official emphasized the need for proactive measures to curb the proliferation of illegal connections and ensure sustainable water management practices across Pune. The initiative aims to incentivize compliance among property owners while bolstering the city’s efforts towards efficient water distribution and conservation. As Pune grapples with the ramifications of unauthorized water usage, stakeholders anticipate that the revived amnesty scheme will garner greater participation, contributing to enhanced transparency and accountability in water resource management. The success of this initiative is expected to pave the way for more comprehensive strategies aimed at mitigating water scarcity and promoting responsible water usage practices in urban settings.
