01 August,2025 05:49 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The operation is part of TMC’s broader efforts to curb misuse of water resources, said an official. Pic/TMC
The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) on Friday said that it has began a crack down on illegal water connections, taking a strict action against illegal usage in unauthorised buildings, the civic body disconnected around 134 connections, officials said.
According to the civic body, a special drive was launched by the Water Supply Department and the civic officials disconnected 134 unauthorised water connections, sealed 79 illegal borewells, and seized 18 motor pumps across various parts of the city.
The officials said that these water connections were taken without proper approvals and linked to illegal constructions within the municipal limits.
"The action was taken between July 25 and 31 as part of a focused campaign against unauthorised buildings," an official statement said on Friday.
Earlier, Thane Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao had instructed the Water Supply Department to verify documents and immediately disconnect any water lines connected to illegal constructions. He also directed that any unauthorised connections from municipal water pipelines must be cut without delay.
Following his orders, the drive was carried out in areas such as Diva, Mumbra, Majivada-Manpada, Kalwa, Uthalsar, and Lokmanya Nagar-Savarkar Nagar.
Assistant City Engineer Vinod Pawar said that the team inspected half-constructed and unauthorised buildings and disconnected water lines wherever violations were found.
The operation is part of TMC's broader efforts to curb misuse of water resources, said an official.
Action taken by the TMC between July 25 and 31-
| Date | Water connections cut | Borewells Sealed | Pumps Seized |
| July 25 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| July 26 | 10 | 4 | 10 |
| July 27 | 28 | 19 | 2 |
| July 28 | 31 | 15 | 2 |
| July 30 | 34 | 11 | 2 |
| July 31 | 27 | 23 | 2 |
| Total | 134 | 79 | 18 |
Thane civic body cracks down on construction, noise pollution in eco-sensitive Yeoor hills
Meanwhile, last month, the Thane civic body had issued directives prohibiting the transportation of construction material at the Yeoor Hills, an environmentally sensitive zone. The directives were issued after a review meeting chaired by civic chief Saurabh Rao.
"Yeoor is an environmentally sensitive area. No construction material can be brought into Yeoor without a construction permit issued by the Thane Municipal Corporation's Urban Development Department," an official release had stated on July 27.
The civic chief had also directed private bungalow owners to refrain from using unnecessary lighting, loudspeakers, or bursting firecrackers within their premises.
As many as 188 notices were issued to Yeoor residents for such violations until July 27, officials had earlier.
