Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation’s mandate to use treated sewage water at construction sites has collapsed under weak enforcement and logistical challenges, allowing builders to keep draining aquifers and booking potable water tankers, putting strain on the city’s already stressed water resources.Even technology has failed to ensure compliance. The much-publicised “PMC STP Tanker System” cellphone application boasts over 700 registered developers and 138 tanker operators. Yet, on the ground, its impact remains inconsistent and patchy at best.Developers, on their part, said treated water was unsuitable for construction and could compromise structural integrity. “Potable water ensures better binding of cement and materials. Treated water might be fine for curing or cleaning, but using it in core construction could damage the structure,” a developer said.Cost is another sticking point. “While water sourced from nearby wells or borewells comes cheap (around Rs 800 to Rs 900 per tanker), treated water can cost nearly double, especially when transported from distant sewage treatment plants (STPs), with prices reaching Rs 1,600 to Rs 2,000 per tanker,” the developer said.Civic activists, however, didn’t buy these arguments, terming the non-compliance a failure of governance. “There is a clear reluctance among PMC officials to crack down on violators. Senior officials who turn a blind eye must be held accountable. We have even seen potable water being used in public toilets, which is sheer mismanagement,” Vivek Velankar of Sajag Nagrik Manch, a citizens’ group, said.Ameya Joshi of Kothrud questioned the PMC’s inaction, saying residents were being made to endure water cuts on the grounds of scarcity while developers and others were allowed to use water freely for commercial activities. “It is an injustice to ordinary citizens,” he said.PMC officials, however, said awareness campaigns were under way and adoption was slowly improving, saying PMC itself was using treated water for gardening, road cleaning and maintaining public infrastructure. “We have created a dedicated mobile platform and are seeing increased engagement,” Nandkishor Jagtap, head of the PMC water supply department, said.Yet, the numbers reveal the scale of the challenge. Nearly 150 tankers are used daily for private construction, while another 200 cater to civic projects, including road works, Metro construction, water tank building and the ambitious 24×7 water supply scheme.A PMC survey conducted two years ago paints an even starker picture. Of 326 active construction projects, only 118 complied with the treated water mandate, while 208 were issued notices for violations.
