Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Apr 7: The Mumbai Water Tanker Association (MWTA) has threatened an indefinite strike starting April 10 in protest against the Central Ground Water Authority’s (CGWA) directive mandating licenses for groundwater extraction.

The association warns that the move could severely disrupt non-potable water supply to commercial units and government infrastructure projects across the city.

MWTA Secretary Rajesh Thakur said, “The requirement to obtain a mandatory licence from CGWA is extremely difficult due to the stringent conditions imposed. We are seriously considering launching a strike against this decision.”

Highlighting the impracticality of the CGWA norms, MWTA spokesperson Ankur Sharma said, “We have started receiving notices from BMC ward offices. The licence conditions are nearly impossible to meet. One clause demands 200 square metres of open land around each well, plus installation of a flow meter and GPS system. That’s unfeasible in a densely packed city like Mumbai.”

Mumbai currently has around 1,800 water tankers, each with a capacity of 10,000 litres, collectively supplying nearly 200 million litres of non-potable water daily, according to MWTA estimates.

Sharma added, “We cater not only to small businesses but also to critical public works like road concretisation. The CGWA’s directive, if enforced, will paralyse ongoing infrastructure projects.”

This is not the first time tanker operators have faced such a challenge. Similar notices were issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in 2023, but were later withdrawn following intervention by the state government.

BMC officials maintain that the CGWA’s mandatory licensing policy, introduced in 2020, is aimed at curbing unregulated groundwater use. There are currently 800 to 1,000 groundwater sources being tapped across the city.

With both public and developmental interests at stake, all eyes are now on whether the authorities will reconsider or enforce the directive as planned.