Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai

Mumbai, Apr 8: In a development that could disrupt non-potable water supply across Mumbai, the Mumbai Water Tanker Association (MWTA) has announced a strike beginning April 10, citing impractical conditions under the new groundwater licensing regulations imposed by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).

The CGWA, as part of its 2020 directive, has mandated that all water tanker operators secure licenses to extract groundwater — a move aimed at curbing rampant and unregulated usage. Currently, Mumbai depends on approximately 1,800 to 2,500 tankers daily to supply nearly 200 million litres of non-potable water sourced from local wells and borewells.

Civic officials stated that around 800 to 1,000 groundwater sources are being used by tanker operators in the city. In recent weeks, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) began issuing notices to tanker owners, warning them to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) or cease operations entirely.

MWTA, however, has voiced strong opposition to the licensing conditions, calling them unrealistic and ill-suited to Mumbai’s dense urban environment. “The CGWA’s rules require 200 square metres of land around each well, a flow meter, and a GPS tracking system — where will we find such space in Mumbai? These conditions are more appropriate for other cities, not for us,” said MWTA spokesperson Ankur Sharma.

He further added that the association has sought intervention from Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other senior officials. “If there is no action from the government, we will be forced to stop our operations from April 10,” Sharma warned.

The association stressed that water supplied by tankers is not just for drinking but is crucial for several large-scale operations including road concretisation, infrastructure projects, hotels, malls, ready-mix concrete plants, and construction sites. “Will the BMC divert drinking water for these works if we stop supplying? Thousands of workers in the tanker business will lose their livelihoods,” Sharma questioned.

This is not the first time the issue has reached a boiling point. In 2023, a similar crisis was averted when the state government intervened after BMC issued notices to tanker operators.

With April 10 approaching, the city braces for potential disruptions as authorities and tanker operators remain at loggerheads over the implementation of groundwater extraction norms.