Pune’s Water Crisis Deepens as Tanker Prices Double – Citizens Demand Immediate Govt Intervention
Water shortage in Pune’s eastern suburbs worsens as tanker prices double. Residents demand urgent PMC intervention to regulate rates and ensure fair water supply.
By Mrudula Narale | Pune | April 14, 2025
As temperatures continue to rise, residents in eastern Pune are battling a worsening water crisis. With private tanker prices nearly doubling over the last month, frustration is boiling over. Locals are accusing operators of price gouging and demanding that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) step in with urgent regulatory measures.
Pune Water Crisis: Soaring Prices, Shrinking Access
In the areas of Wagholi, Kharadi, Hadapsar, and Undri, a 5,000-liter water tanker now costs ₹800 to ₹1,200, up from ₹500 to ₹700 just weeks ago. Larger 12,000-liter tankers are being sold at ₹1,800 to ₹2,500, nearly double the usual rate.
“Water is not a luxury. Why are private players allowed to exploit us?” asks Pradnya Jagtap, a resident of Kharadi.
Unregulated Market, Unrelenting Heat
As Pune swelters in summer temperatures above 40°C, the PMC’s limited tanker services are proving inadequate. With many areas not connected to consistent municipal supply, residents have no choice but to depend on private suppliers—leading to unregulated pricing and panic buying.
PMC officials admit that the situation is grim. “We are seeing unprecedented demand and dwindling groundwater reserves. We’re working to optimize supply but need public cooperation,” said a senior civic engineer.
Citizens Demand:
- Immediate price caps on private water tankers
- Increased deployment of PMC tankers in affected areas
- Crackdown on illegal groundwater extraction
- Helpline for complaints against overcharging
Despite these demands, the PMC has not yet implemented fixed pricing, leaving citizens skeptical of any real-time relief.
Social Media Storm and Protest WarningsHashtags like #PuneWaterCrisis are trending online, with residents posting videos of dry taps, long queues, and tanker bidding wars. Several housing societies have begun collaborating to file petitions and are threatening street protests if no action is taken.
The Way Forward?
While the PMC assures that more borewell permissions and tankers are on the way, citizens remain wary. For now, eastern Pune remains in crisis mode—trapped between the soaring heat and an unregulated water market, with no clear end in sight.
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