• Source:JND
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The water crisis is mounting in Pune and its twin city, Pimpri-Chinchwad. The condition has become worse with the temperature rising for the past two months. Amid this, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) warned 184 housing societies of water supply cuts.

The PCMC warning came amid concerns over a breach of environmental compliance. As per a Mid-Day report, 184 societies failed to operate their mandated sewage treatment plants (STPs). The societies have failed to comply even after three notices have been served to them by PCMC.

The STPs are a key requirement under the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR), which are enforced all over Maharashtra for any society with either over 100 flats or consuming over 20,000 litres of water daily.

Engineer Sanjay Kulkarni, PCMC chief, said, "Despite repeated appeals and formal notices, these societies have kept their STPs non-operational. The civic body will now cut off water supply to the defaulters as a last resort."

ALSO READ: Pune Water Cut: PMC Announces Week-Long Supply Disruptions From May 5 | Check Day-Wise List Of Affected Areas

According to the PCMC records, there are 456 housing societies in the area. Out of them, only 264 have functional STPs. 184 remaining societies have cited cost constraints and other excuses to avoid operating STPs. 

Due to the negligence, many societies have been forced to rely on private tankers. The burden of tankers has led to a rise in monthly water expenses between Rs 1.25 and Rs 1.5 lakh.

On the other hand, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has announced a week-long water cut starting today. The supply will remain disrupted in the areas of the city, where water is supplied by the Vadgaon Water Purification Plant.

A PMC spokesperson said, “Due to increased consumption and rising temperatures, the water supply has surged by nearly 25 per cent. However, the supply from Vadgaon has been inconsistent, forcing us to ration water.”