Mumbai: Taps run dry in posh Goregaon east colony

Tarabir Singh Kohli and his wife Ravjit Singh, residents of Royal Palms-I, pack up and leave, on Sunday. Pics/Satej Shinde

Residents of Royal Palms Estate in Goregaon are among the first to be affected by the implementation of a central government guideline on water tankers. Nearly 15,000 residents have been living without water for the past four days as the Mumbai Water Tanker Association has stopped its services. The residents of around 38 societies are now left to fend for themselves in the absence of water and are being forced to either pack and leave to stay with relatives or friends, or to spend a lot of money to buy water, food as well as disposable utensils. Many even said they are urinating outside as there is no water to flush toilets.

Kamal Gadhave, who resides in Royal Palms-I, has been buying mineral water every day to wash dishes

Members of the Mumbai Water Tanker Association told mid-day that the authorities have implemented a Central government guideline that was passed in September 2020. "We have been asked to strictly follow the guidelines laid out by the Central Ground Water Authority. But the guidelines are such that we cannot run our business if we follow it," said Rajesh Thakur, secretary of the association.

Also read: Mumbai: ‘Stoppage of water tankers could cripple city'

The guidelines

As per the rules, all users who abstract ground water and use it to supply water in bulk through private tankers will now mandatorily have to seek no-objection certificate (NOC) for ground water abstraction. These NOCs will be valid for 2 years. "The officials want us to pay in advance to seek NOC. But there are users who have paid in advance but the licence is yet to be issued. So, how will we carry out business?" said Jeetu Bhai Shah, vice-president of Mumbai Water Tanker Association.

Residents of Royal Palms-I hold a meeting outside the building on Sunday

He said, "The users, who are abstracting groundwater and using it for bulk water supplies, need to submit documents with an application including proof of ownership of land measuring 200 sq metre or more on which abstraction structure is installed as well as proof of ownership/lease of tanker and groundwater quality report. How can one have 200-sq m land in a space-crunched city like Mumbai to extract water?"

"Besides this, we have also been asked to use ‘potable water' label on all tankers, fit abstraction structures with tamper-proof digital water flow meters with telemetry. These flow meters are to be calibrated by an authorised agency once a year. The guidelines also stipulate that the water shall be used for drinking or domestic purposes only, and that the tankers can be filled only within the premises," he added.

Rosalyn Nadar, a resident, shows the condition of her kitchen

Shah said, "If we don't follow the guidelines, we will be booked under Sections 379 (punishment for theft), 426 (punishment for mischief), 430 (mischief by injury to works of irrigation or by wrongfully diverting water) of the Indian Penal Code as well as certain provisions of the Maharashtra Groundwater Act, 2009."

Implementation

In a bid to enforce implementation of the guidelines, Mumbai Commissioner of Police Vivek Phansalkar on February 3 ordered all police stations to check whether the tanker association was abiding by the order. mid-day has learnt that the cops from Mahim, Shivaji Park and other police stations held a meeting with the tanker association on February 6 and informed them about the order.

Around 15,000 residents living in 38 societies in Royal Palms have been facing a severe water crisis as tankers have stopped supplying water

The tanker association sought a day's time and held an internal meeting wherein it was decided to stop their services, forcing thousands of residential as well as commercial buildings to face severe water crisis.

Not a drop of water

mid-day spoke to the residents of Royal Palms who are facing the brunt. Kiran Paigankar, a local, on Sunday said, "We don't even know what is wrong, but we have not had any water since February 9. Today is the fourth day that we didn't get a single drop of water. We have been purchasing water bottles and jars from the market, which is costing us a bomb."

"There are 38 societies in Royal Palms where nearly 15,000 residents live. Most of the buildings do not have BMC water connection. Even the buildings that have BMC connection are not getting adequate water," said Asirvad Pareek, another resident.

Residents of Royal Palms-I show a water filter that's been lying unused

Another resident, Bipin Chaudhary, said, "We have been paying house tax for everything but BMC officials have failed to give us water connection, forcing us to resort to water tankers. But now even tankers are not supplying water."

Mohanlal Chhatwani, a senior citizen, said, "I have been staying in Royal Palms since April 2005, and we have been facing water crisis since then. We were fully dependent on water tankers, but now they have stopped their services too."

In the absence of water, women are facing hygiene issues. A 23-year-old woman said, "Many of us have not taken a bath in days due to the water crisis. It is even worse for those who are on their periods, as we need a lot of water during that time."

Taranbir Singh Kohli, a senior citizen who suffers from diabetes, said, "Due to my health condition, I need to use the washroom frequently. But as there is no water, we cannot clean the toilet. These days I have to run to nearby bushes to relieve myself."

His wife Ravjit Singh Kohli told mid-day, "My kitchen is in a messy condition and the toilet is soiled as there is no water to wash the dishes and clean the toilet. Water is an essential commodity but the civic body is depriving us of it. We have stopped cooking at home and have been using disposable plates, spoons and glasses to eat food which we are being forced to order from outside." Fed up with the situation, the couple left for a relative's place in Santacruz on Sunday.

The situation was the same at the residence of 46-year-old Samit Salian. He has sent his wife and three-year-old daughter to live with his in-laws in Bhandup. "I had no option but to send them to my in-laws as I don't know when this problem is going to be resolved. I can survive without taking a bath. I can purchase water bottles to wash my face and hands with, but one needs plenty of water if there is a child at home."

9
Day in Feb when tankers stopped supplying water