About 60% of the 36,020 water meters installed by commercial consumers of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) have become defunct, forcing the civic administration to collect average bills, leading to loss to the exchequer.

The PMC standing committee on Monday ordered the civic administration to issue notices to those consumers who have faulty meters to carry out immediate repairs. “We found that just 40% meters are operational. It is strange and uncalled for,” chairman of standing committee, Arvind Shinde, said on Monday.

Some of the panel members questioned the administration’s proposal to install meters for domestic consumers. “If the civic administration is unable to monitor the functioning of meters used by commercial consumers, how will it manage the meters of domestic consumers?” they said.

The Centre has asked municipalities seeking financial assistance under the Jawaharlal Nehru national urban renewal mission (JNNURM), to introduce water meters for water distribution.

Municipal commissioner Mahesh Zagade’s proposal to introduce water meters in Pune is pending before the PMC standing committee.