Mumbai Water Tankers Threaten Strike From April 10 Over Tough Groundwater Licensing Norms

Mumbai Water Tanker Association (MWTA) has decided to halt their services starting April 10, following a directive from the Central Groundwater Authority (CGWA), which mandates licenses for groundwater extraction. Currently, approximately 1,800 to 2,500 water tankers operate in Mumbai, supplying a 200 million litres per day (MLD) of non-potable water sourced from local wells and borewells. 

Civic officials stated that the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) introduced the mandate for compulsory licensing in 2020 to curb excessive groundwater extraction. Currently, an estimated 800 to 1,000 groundwater sources are being tapped by water tankers across the city. The BMC has started sending notices to several water tanker owners, instructing them to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) or cease their supply. However, MWTA has raised concerns, arguing that obtaining a mandatory license from CGWA is difficult due to the stringent conditions imposed.

Ankur Sharma, spokesperson for the MWTA, stated, “Complying with the CGWA conditions is challenging. One condition requires 200 sq meters of land around each well, along with the installation of a flow meter and a GPS tracking system. Where will we find such space in a densely populated city like Mumbai? The guidelines are meant for other cities, and the BMC is forcefully implementing them here. We have approached Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other authorities, but if they do not respond, we will be unable to continue our supply from April 10, as per the BMC’s order."

The association claims that other than drinking purposes water is also required in larger quantity for non-potable purposes such as road concretisation, several infrastructure projects, hotels and malls, Ready mix concrete plants, building constructions etc. "If we stop our supply will BMC fulfill their needs by supply drinking water for such works. Thousands of them will get unemployed if water tanker business is stopped," said Sharma. 

In 2023, the BMC had issued similar notices to tanker owners, prompting them to call for a strike. However, the strike was called off after intervention by the state government.