Mumbai Water Crisis: BMC To Acquire Private Tankers, Wells Under Emergency Law Amid Strike

Mumbai’s municipal authority has invoked emergency powers to acquire private water tankers, wells and borewells across the city amid an ongoing strike by tanker drivers.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corp. implemented provisions of the Emergency Management Act, 2005, as efforts to resolve the dispute remain unsuccessful.

The strike began on Friday after the BMC issued notices to ring well and borewell operators, asking them to stop supply to tankers and obtain fresh licences from the Central Ground Water Authority.

Tanker drivers have not resumed operations despite Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis urging the civic body to find some middle ground and Union Jal Shakti Minister Chandrakant Patil meeting with the Mumbai Water Tanker Association.

The strike has disrupted water supply across residential and commercial areas, forcing some offices to shut and housing complexes to run dry.

To maintain water supply to private housing societies and other entities, the BMC has devised a set standard operating procedures. The municipal teams will coordinate with the Mumbai Police and the state's transport commissioner to implement the water distribution plan.

Under the plan, private housing societies who want water tankers are required to register a demand at civic facility centres in the department offices and pay a certain amount.