Ulhasnagar: The Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) is facing criticism after thousands of litres of water allegedly went to waste at its tanker filling point at Dussehra Maidan in Camp-5 from the morning of October 9. The incident has sparked outrage among residents, who have questioned the civic body's commitment to water conservation.

The incident comes amid concerns over a possible water shortage across Maharashtra, with a minimum 10 per cent water cut scheduled to come into effect from October 16. The municipal corporation has been urging citizens through social media campaigns to conserve water and avoid unnecessary consumption.

However, the reported wastage at the civic body's own tanker point has raised questions about implementing these appeals. Residents allege that poor management, inadequate monitoring, and a lack of timely intervention allowed large quantities of water to flow onto the streets.

While the administration continues to promote the message that every drop counts, citizens have accused it of failing to address water wastage within its own operations. They argue that conservation efforts must begin with the authorities responsible for managing the city's water supply.

"Before appealing to citizens to save water, the municipal corporation should stop the wastage of water within its own system and fix accountability for those responsible," residents demanded.

Citizens also criticised the apparent contradiction between the civic body's online awareness campaigns and the situation at the tanker filling point. They called for immediate action to prevent further wastage and ensure better supervision of water distribution facilities.

The incident has renewed demands for stricter monitoring of municipal infrastructure, prompt repairs to leakages, and accountability among officials responsible for water management. Residents have urged the administration to lead by example, particularly when water conservation is increasingly important.

The episode has raised a pressing question for the civic body: can public awareness campaigns succeed without effective action on the ground?