Residents in various neighborhoods of Pune, such as NIBM Annex, Mohammadwadi, Undri, Kharadi, Nagar Road, Wagholi, Baner, Bavdhan, Sus, and parts of Ambegaon, are preparing for a potential water shortage as private tanker services plan to halt operations starting April 15.<\/p>\n
This announcement came on Tuesday, shortly after two young individuals tragically lost their lives in separate incidents involving water tankers, leading to public outcry and intensified enforcement actions against tanker companies. This situation is further complicated by ongoing repair work at the Bhama Askhed water supply unit, which services the eastern regions of Pune along Nagar Road, adding to the challenges faced by residents reliant on tankers for their water needs.<\/p>\n
On April 5, a 19-year-old student named Ariz Shaikh was killed when his motorcycle collided with a tanker driven by an intoxicated driver near NIBM Annex. Just two days later, on April 7, Gracia Dora, a 22-year-old resident of Nancy Towers in Wanowrie, was fatally struck by a water tanker while riding her two-wheeler near a bridge close to Ganga Satellite Society. She became trapped under the tanker and later succumbed to her injuries. These unfortunate events prompted traffic police to initiate a rigorous enforcement campaign targeting tanker operators.<\/p>\n
Following police actions that included seizing tankers due to issues like expired fitness certificates, tanker operators claim they have been unfairly targeted. Sushant Lonkar, the owner of R. T. Tankers based in Kausar Baug, pointed out that there are over 2,000 active water tankers in Pune and believes the industry has been unjustly portrayed in light of the recent accidents.<\/p>\n
“The loss of life is certainly tragic, but the response has been to label all water suppliers as ‘tanker mafias’. We have not coerced any housing society into using specific suppliers, nor have we demanded additional payments or monopolized services. We are simply providing a vital service that the municipal corporation has continually failed to deliver,” he stated.<\/p>\n
Lonkar acknowledged the existence of pending fitness certificates but attributed the delays to administrative inefficiencies rather than deliberate negligence. “The Regional Transport Office currently lacks the capability to conduct fitness assessments, leaving these matters unresolved through no fault of our own. Meanwhile, other types of heavy vehicles with similar issues continue to operate unimpeded. Only water tankers are facing scrutiny,” he added, noting that a single tanker can typically make around 12 deliveries in a day, supplying over 100,000 liters in 24 hours. “When tankers are confiscated, it results in losses for both owners and residents.” <\/p>\n
Additionally, a notice circulated among housing societies in NIBM Annex and nearby areas highlights another challenge: a new police regulation requiring that each tanker be accompanied by a helper. Non-compliance incurs a daily penalty of Rs 1,500, which tanker suppliers claim adds to their already strained operational costs.<\/p>\n
For local residents mourning the recent fatalities, the timing of the planned strike has elicited strong reactions. Jaymala Dhankikar, a social worker and local resident, expressed dismay at the tanker operators’ response. “Two innocent lives were lost due to reckless driving. Instead of expressing sorrow, these operators are choosing to suspend services and leverage residents against the administration and police,” she remarked.<\/p>\n
Dhankikar also criticized the lack of oversight in the tanker sector. “There is no available data on the number of trips these tankers make each day, the sources of their water, or whether the water meets safe drinking standards. This reflects a failure on the part of the administration as much as it does on the operators. Water is an essential resource; if operators decide to suspend services during peak summer to advance their demands, the administration should revoke their licenses and make alternative arrangements.” <\/p>\n
“Drivers frequently use their phones, drive under the influence, or operate vehicles in poor condition with expired documentation. The traffic police are correct to focus on these violations and should continue their efforts,” she added.<\/p>\n
Residents from the affected areas have consistently pointed out that the surge in water tanker usage is a direct result of the Pune Municipal Corporation’s inability to expand water pipeline infrastructure to newer and outlying neighborhoods. Until this gap is addressed, they argue that the city will continue to be reliant on a largely unregulated private water supply system, which can have far-reaching consequences, as recent events have demonstrated.<\/p>\n
Shubham Kurale is a journalist based in Pune with a background in journalism from the Ranade Institute. His primary reporting focuses on transportation, civic issues, sports, gig economy workers, environmental matters, and LGBTQ+ topics. Follow him on X: @ShubhamKurale1.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Residents in various neighborhoods of Pune, such as NIBM Annex, Mohammadwadi, Undri, Kharadi, Nagar Road, Wagholi, Baner, Bavdhan, Sus, and parts of Ambegaon, are preparing for a potential water shortage as private tanker services plan to halt operations starting April 15. This announcement came on Tuesday, shortly after two young individuals tragically lost their lives […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9517,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[40,149],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9518","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-india","category-in-pune"],"yoast_head":"\n