The Mumbai Water Tankers Association (MWTA) announced the suspension of its indefinite strike on Tuesday evening after a directive from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis instructed the collectors of both the suburban and city districts of Mumbai to retract notices previously issued to tanker operators.
By 7:30 PM, water tankers were back in operation.
Amol Mandhare, the MWTA’s Secretary General, informed The Indian Express, “We had a meeting with CM Fadnavis, who contacted the collectors and requested them to withdraw the notices. The collectors confirmed that no further action would be taken against us, and we will receive written communication within the next four days. Given the critical situation in Mumbai, we decided to end our strike.”
The MWTA serves as the primary organization for water tanker suppliers in Mumbai, providing approximately 2,000 million liters of water daily to both residential and commercial users across the city. Their fleet includes over 2,000 tankers, each capable of holding 10,000 liters of water.
The strike commenced on Monday after the Tehsildar’s office issued notices to the owners and operators of ring-wells and borewells, instructing them to cease water distribution to tankers and apply for new licenses from the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). According to CGWA regulations, licenses are granted only if the well is situated on a land parcel of at least 200 square meters, and each well may only supply water to one tanker.
The association contested these notices, citing the high costs associated with acquiring water meters, which are not produced in Maharashtra and must be obtained from other states.
As the strike entered its second day, MWTA representatives met with Fadnavis in the afternoon. Following their discussion, the collectors advised the association not to respond to the notices, and they plan to communicate with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to establish guidelines regarding the CGWA norms.
The strike significantly affected local residents. Dipti Thakur Desai, secretary of Highland Tower in Kandivali’s Akurli area, expressed concern about the difficulties faced by residents, particularly the elderly, since the announcement of the strike. “Though the strike was declared on June 8, we had already faced inadequate water supply from the BMC on June 7. The combination of insufficient BMC water and the strike created a severe crisis for us on Monday. Our community includes many senior citizens and bedridden individuals who were especially impacted. We did receive some BMC water on Tuesday, but the situation remains critical,” she stated.
Manoj Ganguli, a resident of Rainforest Kanakia in Marol, noted that his society had extended water cut timings on Tuesday due to reliance on tankers. “We had already initiated a water cut on Monday, and on Tuesday, we extended the hours from 12 PM to 6 PM and 11 PM to 5 AM. Had the strike continued, our difficulties would have only intensified,” he remarked. Similarly, businesses in commercial areas like Marol Plaza implemented half-day schedules as early as Monday.
This strike occurred amidst an existing 10 percent water cut across Mumbai, exacerbating the city’s ongoing water crisis. This was the MWTA’s third strike in a span of four years, with a previous strike in 2025 triggered by the BMC’s demands for compliance with updated CGWA guidelines.
Nayonika Bose serves as a Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau. Early in her career, she has established a reputation for focused reporting on local governance and community welfare, showcasing her expertise in addressing vital civic issues that affect the residents of Mumbai.
