With Essential Water Supply Staff on Election Duty, Concerns Arise Over Potential Disruptions
Pune, India – As the Pune Municipal Corporation gears up for the Lok Sabha elections, concerns mount over potential disruptions to the city’s water supply on polling day. With 140 employees of the water supply department being deployed for election duties, Punekars brace themselves for possible shut-offs amidst an already looming water crisis.
Scheduled for May 13, the polling day for the Pune Lok Sabha constituency, the deployment of these employees poses challenges to ensuring uninterrupted water supply to the city. The Pune Municipal Corporation has assigned election responsibilities to a total of 960 government employees, including essential service workers, with expectations of further augmentations during the polling and counting phases.
Since January 2024, approximately half of the Class III clerical staff of the PMC has been involved in election duties, leading to heightened pressure on the corporation’s operations. However, the recent directive to deploy water supply department employees exacerbates concerns over potential service disruptions.
The looming water crisis in Pune, exacerbated by inadequate water storage in dams due to insufficient planning, adds to the urgency of maintaining uninterrupted water supply. The entire staff of the water supply department, including department heads, is required to remain vigilant and proactive. Yet, with personnel shortages, the department faces mounting strain to fulfill its responsibilities.
Any disruptions in water supply during the polling day could evoke public dissatisfaction and potentially impact voter turnout. Coordination of water release plans amidst simultaneous engagement of pumping operators in election duties remains a concern for the municipal corporation.
The district administration’s oversight, leading to the inclusion of essential service employees in the list for election duties, underscores the challenges faced by the PMC. Additional commissioner Ravindra Binawade has assured that efforts are underway to rectify this error and ensure uninterrupted water supply.
In accordance with directives from the Election Commission of India, assistant commissioners from all zonal offices within the municipal corporation have been assigned additional responsibilities as nodal officers. They are tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct and ensuring compliance within their operational jurisdictions.
Currently, a total of 960 employees from various classes are actively involved in election-related duties across all municipal corporation offices, excluding essential services. Despite these challenges, preparations continue for the smooth conduct of elections in Pune, emphasizing the importance of balancing essential services with democratic processes.
