Overview

• Mumbai's private water tanker operators have suspended services after the BMC mandated compliance with CGWA's 2020 groundwater licensing guidelines.
• The guidelines require well owners to maintain 200 sq m around wells, install digital water flow meters, and restrict tanker filling to within premises, which operators argue are unfeasible in urban areas.
• The suspension is impacting water supply during peak summer demand and raising concerns over delays to key infrastructure projects, including road concretisation and the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project.
• Mumbai Guardian Minister Ashish Shelar has accused local authorities of harassing tanker operators and has sought intervention from the central government.
• Opposition leaders, including Aaditya Thackeray, have criticized the state government for failing to address the long-standing issues and for canceling a proposed desalination plant that could have alleviated water shortages.