Pune: As temperatures soar, Pune’s growing water demand has brought to light severe mismanagement in the city’s tanker distribution system. Despite the installation of GPS trackers on water tankers to ensure fair distribution, reports indicate that these tankers are being redirected to unauthorized locations under the influence of political figures.
Over the last two months, water supply requirements across Pune and its surrounding areas have significantly increased. Data reveals that 4,04,340 tanker trips have already been deployed in the 2024-25 fiscal year. However, rather than delivering water to designated areas, several tankers are reportedly being diverted mid-route and emptied elsewhere—allegedly at the behest of local politicians.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), already struggling with water leakages and resource constraints, provides free water through contractors in areas with inadequate supply. However, many citizens have raised concerns about tankers failing to reach their assigned destinations. Shockingly, PMC staff have admitted that the administration has failed to monitor these tankers properly, leading to allegations of large-scale mismanagement and theft.
While some areas in Pune receive water through pipelines, newly added villages without proper infrastructure depend entirely on tanker deliveries. The municipal corporation allocates an annual budget of ₹40-₹42 crore for this service through a tender-based process. Contractors responsible for supplying water are required to fit tankers with GPS devices to enable tracking, but poor enforcement has led to discrepancies.
Each day, around 1,000 tanker trips serve areas such as Fursungi, Uruli Devachi, Pisoli, Undri, Dhayari, Kirkatwadi, Sanaswadi, Sus, Bavdhan, Mahalunge, Lohegaon, and Wagholi. These routes are typically pre-assigned, but when disruptions occur in the core city areas, citizens approach the municipal corporation for emergency supply. In these cases, tankers are allocated with prior approval from municipal engineers. However, a growing trend of unauthorized rerouting has been observed, often carried out without informing engineers.
The municipal corporation incurs financial losses when these tankers are misused, while contractors and politically connected individuals allegedly benefit. Tankers delivering water under the PMC’s scheme must submit invoices to claim ₹1,140 per trip. However, multiple reports suggest that instead of adhering to official allocations, tankers are being dispatched based on instructions from politicians. Some contractors have even been accused of transporting municipal water outside city limits for profit.
To curb these irregularities, the PMC’s water supply department has issued directives stating that tanker trips without prior authorization from municipal engineers will not be compensated. Additionally, daily monitoring has now been mandated, with junior engineers required to verify whether tankers are reaching their designated destinations before approving payments.
Pune’s largest tanker-filling center is located in Ramwadi, followed by Swargate. In total, 25 other filling stations across the city, including Bund Garden, Patwardhan Baug, Yerwada, Chatuhshrungi, and Pashan, collectively handle 1,200-1,300 trips per day. Municipal employees stationed at these centers are responsible for ensuring that tankers are equipped with GPS devices before they are filled. However, no formal orders were issued to verify the functionality of these tracking systems.
Instead, GPS data collection has remained under the supervision of senior officials in the water supply department, leaving field staff unaware of its significance. Some employees have even alleged instances of political interference and pressure, making it difficult to report irregularities.
With political influence affecting water distribution and a lack of strict GPS enforcement, Pune’s tanker supply system continues to face significant challenges, leaving many residents uncertain about their access to a fair and reliable water supply.
