PCMC chief engineer’s arrest in bribery case triggers demand for probe into water department’s functioning

Pune: The arrest of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s (PCMC) water supply department chief engineer Pramod Ombhase by the anti-corruption bureau in a bribery case has triggered demands for a comprehensive inquiry into the department’s functioning, with housing societies, activists and even ruling BJP corporators seeking accountability and a white paper on the city’s water supply system.Pimpri-Chinchwad Housing Societies Federation (PCCHSF) has written to chief minister and municipal commissioner, demanding a white paper detailing the city’s available water resources, supply, and distribution network. Federation president Sachin Londhe said several housing societies have been forced to depend on private water tankers for years because of inadequate supply from the civic body.“The arrest warrants a detailed investigation, not just into the role of the individuals concerned, but also into the city’s water supply planning over the past several years, the distribution of available water, permissions granted to new construction projects, and financial transactions within the water supply department,” Londhe said.He questioned the basis on which the civic body is issuing affidavits and certificates assuring water availability to new construction projects despite the city facing acute water scarcity. The federation has also flagged possible irregularities in tanker operations, water distribution, and supply management during Ombhase’s tenure.PCMC has been supplying water on alternate days, while several housing societies continue to rely on private tankers, spending lakhs of rupees every month to meet their daily requirements.Activist Maruti Bhapkar has written to the municipal commissioner and ACB superintendent of police for Pune region, alleging that he had raised concerns about irregularities involving Ombhase and his associates in 2024, but the matter was not pursued despite an initial inquiry. Bhapkar said projects worth between Rs2,500 crore and Rs3,000 crore were undertaken under Ombhase’s supervision and demanded a detailed probe into all these works to identify possible irregularities.Criticism has also emerged from within ruling BJP. Corporator Sheetal, alias Veejay Shinde, alleged that corruption in PCMC was not confined to the water supply department but had spread across several wings. He demanded an inquiry into 12 separate instances in which he claimed irregularities took place.“At least 12 PCMC officials have been arrested by ACB for allegedly demanding or accepting bribes since the new municipal commissioner took charge,” Shinde said.Alleging a nexus between civic officials, contractors, and builders, Shinde said the administration has become unaccountable. He warned that residents across the city would be mobilised for a public agitation if the civic administration fails to order an impartial inquiry, initiate punitive and criminal action against those found guilty, and issue stop-work notices against unauthorised activities.“The administration will be held responsible for all the consequences,” he said.