Dhanori flat owners protest dirty water, defunct STP at Ganga New Town

Residents who bought homes in Goel Ganga's Ganga New Town project in Dhanori at a cost of lakhs to crores of rupees allege that they are having to drink and use black, foul-smelling water. They say the water is suspected to be contaminated, the sewage treatment plant (STP) is not working, an electricity bill issue is unresolved and there are maintenance problems as well.

On Saturday, residents protested outside the developer's sales office. They allege the builder has paid no heed despite repeated complaints for about 18 months.

The most serious allegation concerns water quality. Residents said: "Black and yellowish, foul-smelling water is coming from our taps, with even live larvae in it. This is a serious threat to health." According to them, the STP has been almost shut for about a year and a half, and its running is "only for namesake".

Resident Trupti Joshi said, "Many people are suffering skin problems, hair fall and UTI. We put our hard-earned money into this project, and this is what we got. Because of the stench of the dirty water, people hesitate to go to the toilet. For this reason we cannot even invite our friends or relatives home; it is embarrassing."

Randhir Mokashi said, "At first we thought the project was new, but later we realised the water is simply not fit for use. The condition is worse than a public toilet. The developer should replace the STP plant. We are ready to help, but the builder must take the initiative because the responsibility is the builder's."

Residents claim that whenever protests intensify or an inspection is feared, comparatively clean water is brought in tankers and poured directly into the STP. According to them, this makes the treatment plant's water look better for a while and can hide the problem from inspecting officials. Residents say about five tankers are used daily; there is no independent confirmation of this claim or of the actual purpose of the tanker water.

The protesters have demanded an immediate technical inspection by the Pune Municipal Corporation and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board. They have also sought independent testing of the water supply and of the water coming out of the STP.

The residents' temporary committee has 14 to 15 active members. According to the committee, at least seven or eight meetings have been held with the developer's representatives over the past year and a half, but each time they got fresh assurances and no firm solution. A member said, "For a year and a half we have been saying the same thing to the builder. Each time we are told the work will be completed in two months or that new machinery will be installed in three months. The situation is the same. How long should residents wait?"

Committee chairman Prashant Sinha said small children, women and senior citizens live in the project. He said, "Many women stay at home all day and face these problems constantly. When the situation remains the same, we cannot keep telling families that everything will be fine soon." Residents have also asked whether samples taken from near the STP are being properly tested and whether lab reports are being given to the society.

On electricity, resident Aniket Mane alleged that since possession was handed over, many flats have not been given authorised individual electricity meters, although the developer has installed common meters for the C1, C2 and C3 buildings. Mane said, "Even people who do not live in their flats are getting electricity bills. Some have been asked for Rs 2,000 or more. On what basis are these bills being made? The builder asked us to pay according to 2 BHK or 3 BHK, from Rs 3,000 to Rs 2,000. We should get separate meters. The developer charges a separate meter bill in the name of the festival season, which is illegal."

Some residents say that without an authorised electricity bill they are also facing difficulty getting address proof for Aadhaar updates and other government documents.

Besides water and electricity, residents allege that the developer has not given possession letters to some buyers and has not completed the formal handover of the society and its facilities. They have also questioned the maintenance charges demanded by the developer, saying the residents' society is itself carrying out maintenance work and collecting funds.

Anita Ashok Pawar, among the protesters, said, "This time we protested peacefully, but if the problems are not solved we will have to take to the streets."

Residents gathered on Saturday near the C2 building carrying placards reading "No More Delays, No More Excuses", "Our Health, Our Right" and "One Community, One Voice, A Permanent STP Solution", and then moved towards the developer's sales office.

Atmaram Naik, a member of the society's STP committee, said, "When we went to the MPCB, a shocking thing came to light: the system the developer had promised was not installed at all, and some other technology is being used. This is playing with our health and risking lives."