First time in the history of Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) invoked the Disaster Management Act, 2005 to address the water crisis. On Sunday evening, the BMC announced that it has taken over operations of all water tankers and borewells in Mumbai City and Suburbs. This comes after the Mumbai Water Tankers Association (MWTA) continued their strike and tanker supply of water was suspended from four days.
The MWTA went on strike from Thursday, April 10 as protest against notice issued to ring-well and borewell owners in the city, asking them to implement the 2020 guidelines of the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).
As per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) set up under the Disaster Management Act, a team at BMC ward level, in coordination with Mumbai Police and Transport Commissionerate will supply water to housing societies and other entities.
In Pics: Residents from Kanakia Rainforest housing complex, Andheri East protesting on Sunday
Speaking with the Free Press Journal, Transport Commissioner, Vivek Bhimanwar said, "We will arrange drivers for the tankers and supply the water to the location as told by the BMC. It is a task to arrange these drivers in short period, but the drivers from BEST, MSRTC and private players can be deployed. The aim to start supply from Sunday night itself."
BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani said, "There have been atleast one strike by the water tankers association in the past. But this is the first time we are invoking disaster act provisions."
BJP leader Pravin Darekar, who has been coordinating with the MWTA said, "We arranged their meeting with Union minister of Jal shakti C R Patil and it was decided that they borewells owners will submit their application for CGWA clearances and start supply even without NOC. But they changed their minds last moment. The MWTA is playing with the basic necessity of the citizens. If they strain the matter, they will face strict actions from the government," Darekar said speaking with the FPJ on Sunday.
The MWTA supplies water to slum settlements to high-end residential complexes, commercial establishments, hospitals and even construction sites. MWTA has around 3,000 tankers and supplies 300 MLD water to Mumbai daily. The city has been reeling under severe crisis since the MWTA went on strike.
MWTA spokesperson Ankur Tiwari said, "We do not want extension of deadlines or suspension of notices. We want revocation of notices sent under the CGWA. We demand that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani to represent us to central government, give us in writing and a meeting in person."
