Water tankers’ strike: Will resume service solely after govt formally amends guidelines by Central Floor Water Authority, say operators | Mumbai Information

On Friday (April 11), the BMC revoked the notices that had been despatched to the effectively house owners asking them to acquire a right away recent licence from the CGWA, with out which they will’t provide water to the tankers.

In its newest assertion, the BMC mentioned effectively house owners can now provide water to tankers until June 15. The BMC’s transfer got here after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis urged the civic authorities to discover a answer to the continued strike.

“This isn’t a everlasting answer because the civic physique is attempting to purchase time with this transfer. They know that after monsoon arrives in June, dependency on our tankers is not going to be as a lot and they’ll once more begin issuing notices and taking motion in opposition to us. It is a tactical transfer that’s being designed to disrupt the continued protest,” Ankur Sharma, spokesperson of MTWA instructed The Indian Categorical on Saturday.

In its newest set of pointers, the CGWA has maintained {that a} new licence shall be issued to a effectively proprietor provided that the effectively is located on a land parcel having a minimal measurement of 200 sq. metres. Moreover this, solely a single tanker can fill water from a effectively. The brand new pointers additionally mandate that each effectively operator must arrange a movement meter for recording the movement of water.

The MWTA mentioned that they may name off their protest provided that the state authorities take away the clauses stipulated by CGWA and instantly take away the penalities which were levied on the operators.

“The chief minister, Mumbai’s municipal commissioner together with the pest management officer must guarantee us in particular person in addition to in writing that no motion shall be taken in opposition to our members. Then solely will we name of our strike,” mentioned Sharma.

Infra works hit, residents affected

In the meantime, for the third day in a row, infrastructure works in addition to residents continued to bear the brunt.

Civic officers mentioned the highway concretisation work in lots of components of Mumbai has taken a success, contemplating the stoppage in provide of non-potable water. This comes at a time when practically 500km of Mumbai’s roads are completely dug up for concretisation and authorities are racing in opposition to time to complete the work by Could 31.

“The ready-to-mix concrete crops haven’t acquired water for the previous two days. Though a few of these crops are in Thane, even they depend upon the water from the Mumbai tankers. Consequently, we now have stopped concrete manufacturing for the final two days,” mentioned an official.

Residents too had been affected by the shortage of water. A number of industrial institutions in BKC, MIDC, Andheri and Goregaon (East) have mandated work-from-home (WFH), contemplating the water disaster.

“In industrial areas, the bigger quantum of provide comes from water tankers. The non-potable water is handled via RO and is later used for potable functions. Contemplating there was no provide for the previous three days, now workplaces have instructed their staff to do business from home. That is additionally affecting enterprise and productiveness massively,” mentioned a supervisor of a industrial area in Andheri.

Dharmendra Dubey, a resident of Mulund, mentioned, “Presently, the BMC has already imposed a water lower. Due to this fact, residents haven’t any possibility however to purchase water from exterior. Personal sellers are charging water at exorbitant charges. The federal government must intervene now.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA from Worli Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday introduced a citywide protest if the federal government doesn’t clear up the problem within the subsequent 48 hours.

“For the previous 3 days, on prior discover, the water tanker affiliation has referred to as for a strike because the bjp’s union govt has imposed impractical guidelines on them. The Chief Minister or the govt. run @mybmc ought to have set to work, and supplied Mumbaikars with the water we wanted. But, until date, the CM hasn’t intervened…and has let Mumbaikars undergo for 3 days. The @ShivSenaUBT_ will lead morchas to each ward workplace of the BMC if the problem isn’t resolved positively by the Govt/ BMC in 48 hours,” mentioned Aaditya in a put up on X.