Mumbai, already grappling with a water crisis, may face even more severe challenges in the coming days. Following a notice from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) banning the extraction of water from borewells and wells, the Mumbai Water Tanker Association has announced a indefinite halt in water supply via tankers starting April 10.
Ankur Sharma of the Water Tanker Association stated that around 350 MLD (Million Litres per Day) of water is supplied daily in Mumbai through private tankers. These tankers cater to infrastructure projects, real estate developments, and thousands of hotels and commercial establishments across the city. “If we are not allowed to extract water from borewells and wells, the supply will automatically stop, and ongoing projects will be affected,” Sharma said.
The BMC has been issuing notices to tanker operators, instructing them to obtain NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) for drawing water from wells and borewells. The notices clearly state that in the absence of an NOC, water extraction must be stopped and pipelines removed.
In protest of this directive, the Mumbai Water Tanker Association has decided to suspend services. Many parts of the city are already facing irregular water supply, and a complete shutdown of water tankers could escalate the crisis, severely affecting daily life for Mumbaikars.
Sharma highlighted that tanker-based water supply in Mumbai is a business that has been operational for over 70–80 years. “The notices we’ve received warn us to shut down our borewells and block supply lines if we fail to comply with the NOC requirement,” he added.
As the situation unfolds, concerns are rising over its potential impact on essential sectors, particularly real estate and infrastructure, which heavily depend on water supplied by private tankers.
