Pune: PMRDA Cancels Water Supply Affidavit Requirement, Sparking Concerns Over Water Scarcity

Pune, 5th September 2024: The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has recently nullified its previous mandate requiring developers to submit affidavits ensuring water supply for new housing projects. This decision has led to significant unease among residents, who worry that the move might exacerbate water shortages in the metropolitan area.

In a circular issued on Tuesday, PMRDA Commissioner Yogesh Mhase announced the cancellation of the authority’s prior order. The earlier mandate, which was implemented in August 2023, required developers in the 23 villages merged into municipal limits since 2011, as well as areas outside a 5 km radius from the civic limits, to provide water supply assurances. The new directive now shifts this responsibility to the respective civic bodies, in line with the Urban Development Department’s guidelines.

Citizen advocacy groups, which had supported the initial water affidavit requirement, have expressed concerns that the cancellation will negatively impact water supply management. They argue that the affidavits were crucial for monitoring and ensuring adequate water provision.

Lawyer Satya Muley, who has been involved in legal actions concerning water shortages in Pune, voiced strong criticism of the PMRDA’s decision. “The decision to cancel the water affidavits is alarming and will likely worsen the already critical water shortages in densely populated areas under PMC, PCMC, and PMRDA jurisdiction,” Muley said. “This move could lead to unchecked urban expansion without accountability for essential services like water supply.”

Muley also indicated that prominent NGOs in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad are considering issuing legal notices to the local authorities. “The absence of adequate water planning is evident, and such decisions will only contribute to the chaotic growth of urban areas. We will also pursue non-compliance with high court orders related to water management,” Muley added.

A senior PMRDA official explained that the new circular was introduced because the authority had been receiving misleading affidavits from developers. “The responsibility for providing water in the 23 merged villages and the areas within a 5km radius of civic limits falls to the local authorities,” the official said. “If the authorities have committed to supplying water, there’s no need for developers to submit separate affidavits.”

The official noted that the PMRDA oversees approximately 814 villages where development proposals or occupancy certificates are submitted. With 23 of these villages now under PMC’s jurisdiction, it is PMC’s responsibility to ensure water and other essential services. For areas outside the civic limits, the respective municipal corporations are tasked with water supply.

The circular also addressed how developers seeking occupancy certificates based on gram panchayat certifications or previous water supply assurances will now be guided by the executive committee. Additionally, the engineering department will be responsible for drafting water supply plans for these cases.

The change in policy has raised critical questions about the future of urban planning and water management in Pune, with many advocating for a balanced approach that ensures both development and sustainable resource management.