Mumbai Faces Looming Water Crisis as Tanker Services Set to Halt
The Mumbai Water Tanker Association operates around 2,000 tankers with capacities ranging from 500 litres to 30,000 litres, catering to thousands of residential societies, commercial establishments, and construction sites across the city. As the association prepares to suspend services from Sunday midnight, the impact is already being felt by many residents.
Residents of Jolly Makers Housing Society in Cuffe Parade are among those facing an acute water shortage. Zubin Contractor, a resident of the 25-storey tower, said, “We receive inadequate water from the civic body and rely extensively on tankers. With tanker services set to stop, even carrying out basic daily chores is becoming difficult.” While they did receive tanker water on Sunday, it seems to be a temporary arrangement.
The crisis comes at a time when water stocks in the seven lakes catering to Mumbai’s drinking water needs have dipped to just 13% of their total capacity. The BMC has appealed to citizens to use water judiciously. Ankur Sharma, representing the tanker association, said, “This decision has been taken due to the harsh and selective implementation of CGWA (Central Ground Water Authority) norms exclusively in the Mumbai Division, adversely affecting water tanker operators, well owners, ring well owners, borewell operators, RO plant owners, and water suppliers.”
The 2020 CGWA rules mandate 200 sq m of open space around each well, proof of property ownership, digital flow meters, and NOCs. Tanker operators state these conditions are nearly impossible to meet in a densely populated city like Mumbai.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray has come out in support of the association, criticizing the BJP. He said, “Almost a year after the last strike, once again the Mumbai Water Tanker Association has called for a strike from midnight. Mumbai already faces water shortage due to water cuts that the @mybmc has implemented. Even though it says 10%, it actually is much more in certain areas. Even in such a situation, the government is now implementing certain norms of the Central Ground Water Authority that are illogical for Mumbai.”
The government cannot supply enough water, forcing people to rely on tankers, and now the government is penalizing tankers, leading to a strike. Last year, the BMC and BJP pretended to intervene, promised changes in norms, and nothing happened. The BJP has the government at all levels and refuses to keep its promises, ensuring Mumbai suffers. Had the BJP regime not scrapped our desalination project in 2022, it would have been operating by 2025, and no shortfall would occur. Nonetheless, even now, the @JalShaktiMin can still amend its norms. Sadly, as of now, everyone in this regime refuses to intervene, while Mumbai suffers. Why does BJP hate Mumbai so much?”
The Mumbai Water Tanker Association had gone on an ‘indefinite break’ on April 10, 2025, after the BMC issued notices to well owners to get NOCs from the Central Ground Water Authority, as per revised guidelines, failing which permits were to be cancelled. While the association had said that an NOC was only needed for drinking water and not the non-potable water it supplies, the BMC had asserted that action would be taken if extraction continued without approval. The compliance date was later deferred.
