FIRs Against Pune Builders Over Water Misuse: Divisional Commissioner Orders Crackdown

By Prashant for PuneriPages.in

PUNE: In a major escalation of efforts to combat the city’s severe water crisis, Pune Divisional Commissioner Chandrakant Pulkundwar has issued a stern directive to the municipal corporations of Pune (PMC) and Pimpri-Chinchwad (PCMC): begin filing First Information Reports (FIRs) with the police against any builder found illegally using municipal water for construction purposes.

The Violation: What is the ‘Water Affidavit’?

Before starting construction, builders in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad must submit a legally binding affidavit to their municipal corporation.
In this affidavit, they pledge not to use the municipal drinking water supply for construction activities. Instead, they are required to source water from:

Treated water from sewage treatment plants (STPs)
Private water tankers or borewell sources

This affidavit is not a formality — it is a legal commitment. Builders who breach this promise are violating the law, and now, under the Divisional Commissioner’s order, will face criminal police action instead of just fines.

The Context: A City Parched for Water

Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad are currently facing severe water shortages, with many residential societies enduring scheduled water cuts. Dam levels supplying the city have dropped, forcing strict rationing.
Public anger has grown over reports of large construction sites consuming thousands of litres of drinking water daily, even as households struggle for supply.

This directive directly responds to that frustration — aiming to stop wastage and ensure that available drinking water goes to residents first.

The Order: A Zero-Tolerance Stance

The order came during a review meeting with senior officials of both the PMC and PCMC.
Divisional Commissioner Chandrakant Pulkundwar explicitly directed municipal chiefs to lodge police FIRs against any builder caught violating their water usage affidavit.

This marks a shift from previous practice, where violations often resulted in minor penalties or warnings. With FIRs, offenders could now face serious criminal consequences.

What This Means for Citizens and Builders

For Citizens:

This is a clear sign that the administration is prioritising drinking water for residents.
Citizens can now confidently report illegal water usage at construction sites to municipal authorities, knowing it could result in police action.

For Builders:

The message is unambiguous — violating the affidavit can now lead to police cases, not just fines.
Criminal proceedings can result in severe reputational and financial consequences.