PUNE: The reintroduction of the amnesty scheme for illegal water connections in the Pune civic limits is hanging in the balance.
Nearly three months after this extension was proposed, approval for it is awaited from the general body (GB) of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The scheme was launched for appealing to citizens with illegal water connections to pay a one-time penalty and get their connections regularised.
The civic areas have nearly 4.5lakh such water taps.
“It is a policy issue, so approval from the GB is needed. The reintroduction will be done once we get the requisite nod,” said Aniruddha Pawaskar, head of the PMC’s water supply department.
According to civic officials, the extension was sought as the first attempt did not get an adequate response. Only 500 out of around 4.5 lakh illegal connections came forward for the payment. Interestingly, not a single commercial establishment stepped up to avail of the benefits of the scheme.
“Appeals were made by PMC, but people with illegal connections are not giving an adequate response to the scheme. Now, we shall have to ensure that enforcement of other action takes place,” said Ganesh Bidkar, the leader of the house in PMC.
