In a bid to tackle the escalating issue of unpaid water bills, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has announced stringent measures, including the imposition of a one percent monthly penalty on defaulters, starting from January 31, 2024. The move aims to recover a staggering ₹300 crore in outstanding water bills, originally amounting to ₹250 crore before discrepancies such as double billing and inaccurate meter readings surfaced.
The PMC has identified various sectors, including commercial complexes, industrial establishments, educational institutions, and military cantonments in Pune and Khadki, where 39,000 water meters have been installed since 2001. Unfortunately, a significant number of these entities have neglected their water bill payments, prompting the PMC to take decisive action.
Water supply department officials estimate that the total outstanding amount from establishments neglecting payments since 2001 could be as high as ₹650 crore. The inclusion of 23 fringe villages in the PMC limit in 2021 complicated debt collection from Gram Panchayats, leading the PMC to focus on recovering ₹300 crore from businesses, commercial establishments, hotels, and restaurants.
To expedite the recovery process, the PMC has set a grace period of sixty days for citizens to settle their arrears, with a deadline of January 31, 2024. Punitive action, including the imposition of a one percent monthly penalty, will commence on April 1, 2024, for non-compliance with the payment deadline. The PMC anticipates that this stringent approach will motivate residents to clear their debts promptly, thereby reducing the overall outstanding amount.
Customers are urged to collect their water bills from designated water supply department offices (Swargate, SNDT, Chatushrungi). Payments must be made by March 31, 2024, to avoid additional fines or legal action. For water bill complaints or queries, residents can call the toll-free number 1800 1030 222.
