Pune’s drinking water safety became a flashpoint in the Pune Municipal Corporation’s general body meeting on Friday after Nationalist Congress Party councillors from the Ajit Pawar faction staged a protest over alleged sewage discharge near Khadakwasla Dam. The councillors presented Mayor Manjusha Nagpure with a water purifier and demanded action against hotels, restaurants and other commercial establishments accused of releasing untreated wastewater into local water sources.
The protest was led by opposition leader Adv. Nilesh Nikam, standing committee member Vaishali Bankar and councillors including Suhas Tingre, Amol Balwadkar, Nandini Dhende and Ravi Tingre, according to a report by Pudhari. They said the alleged discharge raised concerns about the safety of water supplied to Pune residents and called on the civic administration to investigate the complaints.
Balwadkar had inspected parts of the Khadakwasla Dam area on Monday, the report said. The inspection covered Gore Budruk, Gore Khurd, the foothills of Sinhagad, Khanapur, Mandvi and Kudje. According to the councillor’s account, some hotels, restaurants and commercial establishments in these areas were releasing sewage into water sources. The report did not provide details of water-quality test results, inspection notices or enforcement action by the civic administration.
The councillors demanded a detailed inquiry into the complaints and inspections of establishments suspected of discharging untreated wastewater. They also sought strict action against those found violating applicable regulations and urged the municipal administration to take measures to assure residents that Pune’s drinking-water supply remains safe.
The protest used the water purifier as a political symbol of the administration’s responsibility to provide clean and safe water. The councillors said the mayor should ensure that the issue of sewage management around the dam is treated seriously and that corrective measures are implemented.
The issue drew a counterargument from BJP councillor Puneet Joshi, who raised an objection during the discussion. Joshi alleged that industries in the district were responsible for the supply of contaminated water to Pune and said the purifier should first be presented to district guardian minister Sunetra Pawar instead of the mayor. The report did not include an official response from the municipal administration, water department or pollution-control authorities to either allegation.
Khadakwasla is part of the water-supply system serving Pune, making sewage management in settlements and commercial areas around the reservoir a matter of direct civic importance. The immediate questions raised by the protest are whether untreated wastewater is entering water sources, which agencies are responsible for inspections, and whether any establishments have been formally found in violation. The municipal administration’s response and any inspection or water-testing results will determine the next steps.
