The PIL regarding water problem faced by the residents of urban areas of Pune District was heard by the Division Bench Headed by THE CHIEF JUSTICE Shri Dipankar Datta and Justice Shri Abhay Ahuja at Bombay High Court on 29.11.2022.
The Bench took went into the details of the PIL and in their directions have stated that the concern pertaining to domestic use water supply of residents of Pune District are SERIOUS.

Satya Muley - Advocate The Supreme Court and Bombay High Court, on arguing on behalf of the Petitioners, brought to the notice of the High Court that the Housing Societies in Pune District whether they are under Pune Municipal Corporation, PCMC, PMRDA or Zilla Parishad are now under suffering from no and very deficient water supply of domestic use water. It was also pointed out that in neighbourhoods such as Baner, Balewadi, Wagholi, Hinjawadi the water problem is of extremely serious nature and Housing societies do not get water supply from corporation even for 15 minutes a day. It was also mentioned that now most of the housing societies in Pune District are therefore strongly under the grip of tanker mafia.

Once again it was argued on behalf of the residents of Pune that all the dams and reservoirs in the Pune District are full of water at 100% capacity, but the water does not reach the residents of Pune district through the water pipelines and taps of PMC and PCMC. It was also highlighted that the water however reaches through the private water tankers.

The Division Bench Headed by THE CHIEF JUSTICE Shri Dipankar Datta and Justice Shri Abhay Ahuja took serious note of the water problem faced by the residents of urban areas of Pune District and passed directions that the State Government of Maharashtra, Pune Municipal Corporation, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, PMRDA and Zilla Parishad Pune to file their detail Affidavits latest by 13.12.2022 and considering the severity of the water problem and the urgency involved, have kept the PIL for further hearing with fairly HIGH PRIORITY on the High Court's agenda of 15.12.2022.

Advocate Satya Muley pointed out to the THE CHIEF JUSTICE that the same subject was dealt by the Hon'ble High Court in 2016 when the suburban areas of Baner and Balewadi faced sever water problem and at that time the High Court had imposed a stay on granting permissions for new constructions in the Pune Municipal Corporation area.

Adv Satya Muley pointed out to the Justices that at that time the High Court had also ordered to set up a committee in Pune District, so that the residents suffering from water scarcity problem can approach the committee and the committee can redress the grievance after taking note of factual situation. This Committee was ordered to meet at least once in 2 months. The Committee was to consist of people who are actually involved in the redressal of the water problem faced by the residents of the affected areas. Divisional Commissioner, Municipal Commissioner, Chief City Engineer of respective local body who are in-charge of water supply along with Member, Secretary of District Legal Services Authority in Pune District were directed to be a part of this committee. This Committee was ordered to submit their progress report to the Hon'ble High Court from time to time. It was also ordered that the formation and functioning of the committee should be widely publicised so that residents are become aware and approach the committee regarding their water scarcity problem. Adv. Satya Muley pointed out that no such publicity of such a committee has been done by the local bodies and nobody knows if such committee even was formed.

Advocate Satya Muley arguing the current PIL, requested that the Hon'ble Bombay High Court calls for the records of the functioning of this committee and investigates the performance of this Committee. The Hon’ble High Court was convinced and agreed. The High Court threfore have specifically ordered the State Government of Maharashtra to go into the details and appraise the Bench Headed by THE CHIEF JUSTICE about the compliance related with formation and performance of such committee for redressal of water problem in Pune District.

Arguing on behalf of the Petitioners Adv. Satya Muley also appraised the bench headed by the THE CHIEF JUSTICE that the residents of Pune district are now forced to fight for very basic subjects like water, roads, open amenity spaces which demonstrates the sorry state of civic affairs in Pune district. In some areas situation is so bad that due to incomplete or non-existent roads, or due to other limitations even the water tankers are not able to supply water.

As per Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, 135 liters per capita per day (lpcd) has been suggested as the benchmark for urban water supply. The situation is so bad that in several areas of Pune residents are not getting even 20 litres of water supply per head per day.

Advocate Satya Muley was assisted by Manasvi Sonawane in the PIL.

The Petitioners, Wagholi Housing Societies Association, Pune District Co-operative Housing Societies And Apartments Federation, Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat, Pimpri - Chinchwad Co-operative Housing Welfare Societies Federation Ltd., Baner - Pashan Link Road Welfare Trust, Balewadi Residency Co-operative Housing Welfare Federation Ltd., Dear Society Welfare Association, Bavdhan Citizens Forum, Hinjawadi Employees and Residents Trust, Aundh Vikas Mandal, and Association of Nagar Road Citizens Forum noting the outcry in the residents of all urban areas of Pune District due to water scarcity have filed the current PIL at Bombay High Court through Satya Muley - Advocate the Supreme Court of India and the Bombay High Court.

The following parties are made respondents in the current PIL:

1. Union of India, Department of Water Resources
2. Central Ground Water Board
3. State of Maharashtra - Water Resources Department
4. Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran
5. Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority
6. Pune Municipal Corporation
7. Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation
8. Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority
9. Zila Parishad Pune

1. Mr. Nitin Kumar Jain, Director of Wagholi Housing Societies Association. 93701 16228
2. Pune District Co-operative Housing Societies And Apartments Federation. Chairman Mr. Suhas patwardhan - 9422004701
3. Mr.Vijay Ganapati Sagar ,Sanghatak of Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat - 9422502315
4. Mr. Dattatray Deshmukh from PCMC housing societies federation. 77740 30771
5. Rajendra Chuttar, President, Baner Pashan Link Road Welfare Trust- 9890129103
6. Mr. Ramesh Rokade - Chairman - Balewadi Welfare Federation. 98239 42779
7. Qaneez Sukhrani. Convenor Association of Nagar Road Citizens Forum Mobile 8975856782 / 9822056782
8. Dnyanendra Hulsure President Hinjawadi Employees & Residents Trust - Mobile - 80070 00234
9. Dear Society Welfare Association - Mr. Youraj Pawar - 9890712217
10. Bavdhan Citizens Forum - Mr. Dushyant Bhatia – 9850205902
11. Aundh Vikas Mandal - Mrs. Vaishali Patkar – 9823235331

Satya Muley