Mumbai Water Tanker Operators End Strike Following Meeting with BMC Chief Amid Summer Water Shortages

In a significant development for Mumbai residents facing water shortages, tanker operators ended their strike on its fifth day. This decision followed the civic body's invocation of the Disaster Management Act to requisition private water tankers and wells. The Mumbai Water Tanker Association (MWTA) announced that water supply would resume immediately after a meeting with municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani.

The MWTA had initiated an indefinite strike on April 10 in response to a notice from the BMC. This notice required private well owners supplying water tankers to obtain a licence from the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). The strike disrupted water supply to residential areas, railways, and construction sites. Despite a temporary stay on these notices until June 15, following directives from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil, the MWTA initially refused to end the protest.

Water Supply Resumes After Positive Discussions

Rajesh Thakur, MWTA's general secretary, confirmed the strike's end and immediate resumption of water supply. "We have decided to call off the indefinite strike and resume water supply in Mumbai with immediate effect," he stated. The BMC highlighted that discussions between Gagrani and MWTA representatives were positive, leading to the decision to end the strike.

During the meeting, MWTA members requested that their concerns be communicated to the Central Government. They also submitted a memorandum of demands. Gagrani assured them that the BMC would support in conveying these issues. He informed them that notices related to borewell and well approvals were postponed until June 15, aligning with CGWA regulations.

Administrative Support and SOP Implementation

The civic administration will no longer need to acquire wells or private tankers due to the strike's resolution. The BMC had earlier invoked the Disaster Management Act 2005 to manage private water resources with police assistance. A standard operating procedure (SOP) was developed for efficient water distribution to housing societies and other stakeholders.

The SOP required ward teams to accept tanker requests at Citizen Facilitation Centres (CFCs), process payments, issue receipts, and dispatch tankers accordingly. The MWTA operates around 1,800 registered tankers with capacities ranging from 500 to 20,000 litres, supplying approximately 350 million litres of water daily across Mumbai.

Regulatory Requirements for Water Suppliers

The MWTA outlined several requirements for tanker operators: possession of 200 square metres of land, proof of lease or ownership of a well, installation of a digital water flow metre, adherence to BIS standards, accurate daily intake measurement, and a no-objection certificate from CGWA.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray criticised the state government and BMC for their delayed intervention. In a post on X, Thackeray questioned why authorities did not act sooner when notified about the strike last week. He highlighted that Mumbai suffered during important dates like Mahavir Jayanti, Hanuman Jayanti, and Ambedkar Jayanti due to this delay.

Thackeray stated that after his party's call for protests at all ward offices this week, the government finally intervened. The water tanker association withdrew its strike following assurances from the BMC commissioner that no action would be taken against them.

This resolution brings relief to Mumbaikars as normalcy returns in water supply operations across the city. The cooperation between civic authorities and tanker operators ensures continued access to essential water resources for residents and businesses alike.