Pune: The civic body’s amnesty scheme for illegal water connections has elicited a poor response, a month after its announcement. Only a handful of property owners have come forward to regularise their illegal connections, an official said. As per Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) data, civic areas have nearly 4.
5lakh illegal water taps , both commercial as well as residential. The legal taps would be around 4lakh. PMC had announced an amnesty scheme for illegal water connections in 2021.
It was launched to appeal to citizens with illegal water connections to pay a one-time penalty and get their connections regularised. Only 500 people have come forward to pay the penalty charges . No commercial establishment has come forward to avail the benefits of the scheme.
Civic officials said the administration has increased the ambit of the scheme. The earlier scheme was valid only for legal properties. The latest one can be availed by the occupants of unauthorised properties, too.
But not even one application has reached PMC for regularisation. “The users of illegal water connections are not coming forward on their own. The PMC will form ward-wise teams to increase awareness.
Strict action against users, such as snapping these illegal taps, has been proposed,” said Prasanna Joshi, a senior PMC officer. “The administration introduced the amnesty scheme multiple times. It is an injustice to diligent taxpayers and citizens.
PMC should initiate action against defaulters,” said V.