Hey Pune folks, looks like there’s some drama brewing between the PMC and the Water Resources Department over unpaid water bills! The Water Resources Department is throwing some serious shade at the PMC, demanding a whopping Rs 726.12 crore in outstanding water charges. Yikes!
But hold up, the PMC is not taking this lying down. They’re firing back, claiming that the actual outstanding amount is only Rs 160 crore. They’re even taking this whole thing to court, filing a petition with the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority to challenge the charges imposed by the Water Resources Department.
So what’s all the fuss about? Well, it seems like the PMC has been guzzling up more water than it should from the Khadakwasla and Bhama Askhed dams. This has led to the Water Resources Department slapping them with industrial rates for the excess water usage, bumping up the bills from a couple hundred crore to over 700 crore rupees. Ouch.
The PMC is crying foul, saying that the Water Resources Department’s billing practices are totally unfair. They’re pointing fingers at things like charging industrial rates even though there aren’t any processing industries in the city, classifying 15% of water usage as commercial, and dishing out fines for dumping untreated sewage into rivers. It’s like a water bill soap opera unfolding before our eyes!
But wait, it gets juicier. The two sides have been trying to hash things out in meetings, but it’s been a total bust. Now the PMC is taking things up a notch by filing for arbitration. It’s like a water war zone out there!
Nandkishor Jagtap from the PMC’s water supply department is making it crystal clear that they ain’t gonna pay those crazy water charges. They’re sticking to the regular bill of Rs 160 crore, thank you very much.
On the flip side, Shweta Kurhade from the Khadakwasla Irrigation Department is throwing down the gauntlet, warning that if the dues aren’t cleared, water cuts are coming on February 25. It’s like a countdown to a water apocalypse!
The whole shebang just goes to show the challenges of managing water resources in a booming city like Pune. If these two can’t kiss and make up soon, it could spell trouble for all of us water-loving Punekars. Let’s hope they sort this mess out ASAP!
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