New tanker approval system implemented by Pune Municipal Corporation

Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has announced a new approval system for water tankers. This change aims to prevent misuse by tanker operators hired under civic contracts. From now on, all trips made by contractors will require permission from the civic administration. Currently, PMC's tankers complete approximately 1,000 scheduled trips each day, with an additional 400 trips permitted for emergencies. Previously, contractors could make emergency trips without prior approval. Now, approval from water department engineers is required for these emergency trips. Residents have expressed concerns about private water tankers and want tighter regulation on their trips and rates. PMC data suggests demand for water tankers will increase significantly as summer temperatures rise. Areas like Nagar Road, Satara Road, Hadapsar, and Dhayari have been requesting more tankers. In December, the number of tanker trips was about 36,000. This rose to 40,000 in January and around 42,000 in February. Many residents, like Sanjay Dimble from Yewalewadi, say they pay high property taxes but struggle to get basic water supplies. As a result, they have to hire water tankers, leading to financial strain. Citizens living in areas merged into PMC recently are especially reliant on tankers. Groups like the Haveli Taluka Nagri Kriti Samiti emphasize the need for better water supply infrastructure instead of allowing tanker owners to exploit the situation. PMC officials noted that they do not have data on private tankers, which often use water from wells or borewells. On average, about 30,000 trips by private tankers occur monthly. During summer, demand for tankers typically rises, and PMC is urging residents to report any complaints about them. As of the latest report, the four dams providing water to Pune hold about 13.82 TMC of water, which is 47.5% of their capacity. Last year on the same date, the dams held 13.01 TMC, or around 45% of capacity.