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Citizen groups and housing federations in Pune have called for legal action against developers who failed to fulfil water supply commitments made during project approvals. The demand follows growing complaints from residents in peripheral areas who remain dependent on private tankers despite assurances of interim water supply by builders. The issue was reviewed in a joint meeting involving the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and PMRDA, convened in line with a High Court-directed process. Authorities have been urged to enforce developer undertakings, publish water-related affidavits online, and ensure accountability. The situation highlights structural gaps in urban infrastructure delivery and compliance in fast-expanding residential zones.
Citizen groups and housing federations in Pune have intensified demands for action against developers who have not complied with commitments to provide water supply to residential societies, raising concerns over regulatory enforcement and project-level accountability in the city's expanding urban periphery. Advertisement
The issue has come into focus following a review meeting chaired by the divisional commissioner, involving officials from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA). The meeting was conducted in connection with a public interest litigation concerning urban water supply obligations and infrastructure gaps.
Residents from several localities, including NIBM Annexe and Undri, have reported continued reliance on private water tankers despite developers having submitted affidavits at the time of project approval committing to provide interim water supply until civic infrastructure becomes operational. Citizen representatives indicated that such affidavits were often treated as procedural requirements to secure approvals rather than binding commitments.
Legal representatives associated with citizen groups have stated that affected residents may be assisted in filing police complaints against developers found to be in violation of these undertakings. The groups have begun scrutinising affidavits uploaded by civic authorities to identify cases of non-compliance and establish grounds for legal recourse.
Civic authorities have acknowledged the need for stricter enforcement. Officials indicated that developers are required to ensure water supply at their own cost until major infrastructure projects are completed, and any attempt to shift this responsibility onto residents would invite action. It was also noted that compliance with such undertakings would be monitored more closely going forward.
The broader context of the issue lies in delays affecting key water supply projects, including the Bhama Askhed and Andra schemes, which have limited the ability of civic bodies to provide full coverage across all areas. As a result, interim arrangements by developers remain critical for newly developed housing clusters.
Authorities have proposed measures to improve transparency, including making all water-related no-objection certificates and developer undertakings publicly accessible on municipal platforms. This is expected to enable residents to verify commitments and track compliance at the project level.
The situation reflects a recurring challenge in rapidly urbanising zones, where residential development often precedes the rollout of supporting infrastructure. While regulatory frameworks mandate developer responsibility during this interim phase, enforcement gaps have resulted in increased financial burden on residents, who are compelled to arrange alternative water supply at additional cost.
The outcome of the ongoing scrutiny and potential legal action is likely to influence how future approvals are granted and monitored, particularly in peripheral areas where infrastructure timelines remain uncertain.
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