10 June,2026 08:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Sarthak Mehta
Residents of Piccadilly 1 CHS at Royal Palms collect drinking water cans amid a severe water shortage triggered by the ongoing tanker strike. Pics/Sarthak Mehta
Thousands of residents across more than 40 societies in Royal Palms Estate, Aarey, are struggling to access basic water supplies after the ongoing Mumbai water tanker strike cut off their primary source of water.
With many societies lacking Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) water connections and relying almost entirely on private tankers and borewells, residents say they have been pushed to the brink. Borewells have run dry amid the summer heat, while tanker services remain suspended indefinitely.
Deepak Khamkar points to a nearby BMC water pipeline, which residents say runs close to their building despite the society not having a municipal water connection
The only available alternative, 20 to 25-litre drinking water cans, is becoming increasingly difficult to source as demand surges across the area. Residents claim the crisis has forced families to skip baths and laundry, take leave from work, move children to relatives' homes and spend hundreds to thousands of rupees daily on water.
In a letter dated June 8 addressed to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, residents described the situation as a recurring humanitarian crisis.
Excerpt from the letter: "Basic things like cooking, drinking water, sanitation and maintaining personal hygiene have become extremely difficult."
A screenshot shows drinking water listed as unavailable on a quick-commerce platform as demand surges across Royal Palms during the tanker strike
Societies affected: 40+
Estimated residents impacted: Nearly 30,000
Tanker requirement: 10-12 large tankers per society daily
BMC water connection: Not available in several societies
Current situation: Borewells dry, tanker supply suspended
Additional annual water cost per household: Up to Rs 50,000
Cost burden: Families spending up to Rs 1000 daily on water cans
mid-day visited Piccadilly 1 CHS on Tuesday, where residents said water cans are now the only source of water. Residents claimed even these supplies are becoming scarce as demand increases. Several families reported postponing laundry, reducing water consumption and relying on outside food to cope.
Sandeep Ghadave, Shiv Sena (UBT) Shakha Pramukh
"Locals are fed up. People are wondering why water connections have not been provided despite repeated demands. The scarcity is so severe that residents are unable to source water even through quick-delivery platforms."
>> No regular BMC water connection
>> Dependence on private water tankers
>> Borewells running dry during summer
>> Indefinite tanker strike
>> Rising demand for drinking water cans
>> Limited availability of packaged water
Why are tankers off the road?
The Mumbai Water Tankers Association (MWTA) suspended tanker services across the city from Sunday night and says the strike will continue indefinitely until its demands are addressed.
What the association wants
>> Amendments to the latest Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) guidelines
>> Changes to regulations governing groundwater extraction
Atanu Mishra, 30
"My wife is pregnant, my mother is a senior citizen, and we don't have water even for basic necessities like the washroom and kitchen. I had to take leave from the office just to arrange a few water canisters. People have shifted to their relatives' homes. I am from Kolkata, I don't even have that option. I paid over R26 lakh for my studio apartment five years ago. At that time, I was told a BMC connection was coming. It has still not arrived."
Deepak Khamkar, 39
"I had to send my wife and children to my relatives' house because of this issue. They keep asking when they can come back. For years, we have paid extra water charges. Today, a household spends around Rs 50,000 annually on water-related expenses. Ten years ago, it was Rs 25,000, and in 2021, it was Rs 30,000."
Sheetal Sawant, 32
"We raise this issue every year, yet there has been no relief. There is no water even for cooking. We are forced to spend extra on outside food and bottled water."
Bindu Choubey, 49
"We are a family of six. We are spending at least Rs 1000 extra every day on water canisters while cutting down on laundry, baths and dishwashing."
Sonal Ranade president, Piccadilly 1 CHS
"I have been highlighting this issue in the media for years. We face this crisis whenever tanker operators go on strike. There is not enough water even for sanitary use in the building. The government has failed to provide us with a water connection despite us having all valid documents, including the OC and CC. Why was an Occupation Certificate issued if the building did not have a water supply connection?"
