There will be riots in future in Mumbai on issue of drinking water supply if the construction boom is not halted Letter to Hon Chief Minister of Maharashtra & Ors.

Bhartya varta :

Jagdish K Kashikar

Freelancer Journalist  Mumbai, Maharashtra.

WhatsApp - 9768425757

The water cut in Mumbai has become a annual feature, particularly during summer season. In the month of March 2023  even though the BMC has announced officially 15% water cut, but in reality the water supply has been drastically cut to 50% of the normal water supply. In some parts of Mumbai citizens  have been complaining about the lack of water supply in their localities. In some areas there is no water supply at all or are getting only a trickle, and in other places people have to depend on water tankers and bottled water for drinking.

With water stocks in seven reservoirs is lesser than the previous year, the BMC has to implement 15% cut in water supply from March 2023 till further notice.

To compound the problem, the Developer who punctured the tunnel supplying water to Mumbai has been slapped with Rs.75 crores penalty. The BMC has lost 1000 million litres of water due to illegal act of the Developer. Why has the Developer not been arrested till date.

Mumbai being one of the most populous city of the world quenches it’s thirst from 7 lakes/dams which supply fresh drinking water. Today there about 1100 odd real estate projects on going in Mumbai's 24 Wards, which will add more than thousands of flats to burgeoning population of Mumbai. That apart if the one million houses under Affordable Housing scheme  as planned under the Development Plan 2034, are thrust on Mumbaikars, where is the drinking water?

Further to compound the issue, the slums are going going vertical to 3 storey and above, but there is absolutely no check and balance.

We hereby state that ill planned development is hurting the Mumbaikars since with growing population there is no matching augmentation of civic amenities like water supply, disposal of garbage, etc.

This is chocking the city. There is breakdown of civic infrastructure in some parts of Mumbai. Due to lack of Municipal Markets, every inch of footpaths are taken over by hawkers in many areas of Mumbai.

We therefore demand that if preventive measures are not taken on time, particularly in view of scanty rainfall, the situation might become uglier in coming years due to scarcity of drinking water supply. The BMC needs to put its house in order before granting further development permissions for construction of newer buildings. The City Planners need to put their heads together.

Watchdog Foundation

Bombay East Indian Association