Overview

• Private water tanker operators in Mumbai have indefinitely suspended services, protesting new licensing requirements imposed by the BMC under Central Ground Water Authority guidelines.
• The strike has caused severe water shortages in neighborhoods such as Chembur, Malad, Kandivali, and Chandivali, where residents report low-pressure municipal supply and no tanker backup.
• Critical infrastructure projects, including road concretisation and the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train, face potential delays if the disruption continues beyond a few days.
• The licensing mandates, requiring private well owners to meet rural-oriented groundwater extraction rules, have been criticized as impractical for Mumbai’s urban environment.
• Political leaders, including Aaditya Thackeray, have called for immediate action to resolve the crisis and adapt regulations to the city’s unique needs.