Fear of worsening water crisis in Mumbai, tanker operators will go on indefinite strike from June 7

There is a possibility of a serious crisis regarding water availability in Mumbai from June 7. The Mumbai Water Tankers Association has announced indefinite closure of water transportation services across the city in protest against the alleged stringent and selective enforcement of Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) rules. According to the emergency notice issued by the association on Friday (June 5), all water tanker operators in Mumbai will take their vehicles off the roads from 12 midnight on June 7 and services will remain completely closed till further notice.

This decision may have a direct impact on residential societies, hospitals, industries, commercial establishments and other consumers who depend on private tankers for their daily water requirements. The association says CGWA rules are being implemented only in the Mumbai division, adversely affecting tanker operators as well as well owners, ring-well operators, borewell owners, RO plant operators and water suppliers.

According to the Mumbai Water Tankers Association, the industry has been providing water supply services to Mumbai for the last 80 years and caters to the needs of millions of people in areas of the city where municipal water supply is inadequate or water shortages persist.

“The situation has become such that we are left with no option but to close down our long-running business and suspend all water transport services indefinitely until a practical and equitable solution is worked out with the concerned authorities,” the association said in its statement.

The tanker operators have expressed regret to the citizens for the possible inconvenience and have appealed to the state government and concerned departments to immediately intervene and resolve the problem.

If the proposed strike is implemented, it could have a cascading effect on thousands of residential complexes, construction sites, hotels, restaurants, health services and industrial units in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The water crisis may worsen due to greater dependence on private tankers during the summer season and increasing demand.

Let us tell you that preparations are going on for the arrival of monsoon in the city, but there is concern about the availability of water in many areas, where people are partially or completely dependent on private tankers.

At present, there has been no official response from the administration on the strike announcement. However, if the services are stopped then the daily life of lakhs of residents in Mumbai and surrounding areas may be affected.

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