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Vruksha Sanjivani Abhiyan 2.0: BMC pledges to revive trees in Mumbai
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has planned to launch the 'Vruksha Sanjivani Abhiyan 2.0' — a special tree care initiative and has pledged to review the trees in city under the campaign. An official statement said that the civic body's campaign will be run from April 15 to April 30, 2025, aimed at giving new life to trees on roads across Mumbai. It said that the initiative is being conducted under the guidance of BMC Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani, Additional Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) Dr. Amit Saini, and Deputy Commissioner (Gardens) Ajit Ambi. The campaign will focus on tree maintenance and removal of harmful elements affecting tree health, it said. Focus areas of BMC's campaign include- - Removing nails, posters, banners, and tangled wires from trees in Mumbai - Breaking concrete around the roots to allow better growth of trees in city - Ensuring coordination with the Roads, Electricity, and other departments for smooth execution of the initiative - Deploying trained teams of civic authority with proper equipment from the BMC’s Gardens Department to implement the guidelines under the campaign This is the second phase of the Vruksha Sanjivani Abhiyan 2.0 initiative of the BMC. The first edition in 2022 was a success, prompting BMC to continue the effort to save city trees, the officials said. In its first edition, the civic officials had removed concrete bases around trees in Mumbai which prevents tree growth, and fertile soil was replaced. The nail-attached advertising banners and power and digital TV cables which could harm trees were also removed from scores of trees across the city. In 2022, the Vruksha Sanjivani Abhiyan had began on April 18 and continued till April 23. On the very first day of the special drive, hundreds of trees reviewed and cleansed of scrap. Garden Superintendent Jitendra Pardeshi said, "This is not just a cleanliness drive but a citizen-led green movement to restore tree health and protect Mumbai’s green heritage," the statement said. It said that the BMC urged citizens, environmentalists, NGOs, students, and volunteers to actively take part and contribute to the protection and preservation of the city's trees.
12 April,2025 05:55 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Congress must talk about status of INDIA bloc, says Shiv Sena (UBT)
The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Saturday said the Congress must talk about the status of the INDIA bloc and should have addressed questions about the opposition alliance in the party's recent meeting in Ahmedabad, reported news agency PTI. In an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana', the Sena (UBT) pointed out that the Congress only spoke about itself in the Ahmedabad meet, and INDIA or Bharat was nowhere in the discussion. "Questions are being raised about where the INDIA bloc stands after the Lok Sabha election. The Congress needed to address this in its Ahmedabad session," the editorial said, reported PTI. "What happened to the alliance? Did it get buried in the ground or vanish into thin air? The responsibility to answer this question lies with the Congress president," it said, reported PTI. The Congress held its session on April 8-9 in Gujarat, where it has been out of power for two decades. Senior Congress leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, addressed party workers. The Sena (UBT) also sought to know the Congress's stand for the Bihar, Gujarat and West Bengal state polls. "Or will the party again welcome defeat?" it asked, reported PTI. In Bihar, the Rashtriya Janata Dal is a senior partner, while in Gujarat and West Bengal, INDIA partners, the Aam Aadmi Party and Trinamool Congress, will also be in the fray. "The Congress held its session in Gujarat but this did not yield any success in the state in the Lok Sabha polls, as the party won one seat in the western state after 2014," the Sena UBT said, reported PTI. It said the Congress needs to make efforts in Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. While the party met with success in Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha polls, it suffered a humiliating defeat in the state assembly polls. "The scams of the BJP are as much responsible for this loss as the internal issues of the Congress. It has to deliberate on this," the editorial added. The Congress has to take the lead in fighting dictatorship, the Sena (UBT) said. Referring to the Delhi assembly polls, where the AAP and Congress faced defeat, the Sena (UBT) said some Congress leaders thought the road was clear for the party in the national capital, reported PTI. If Congress uses this strategy of contesting against the INDIA bloc partners in other states, it will only help the BJP, it said, reported PTI. "We have to defeat the BJP and not our friends," the party said. The Sena UBT said an alliance between the Congress and AAP would have proved beneficial. (With inputs from PTI)
12 April,2025 02:57 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Thane MACT awards Rs 19.24L compensation to parents of man killed in accident
The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Maharashtra's Thane district has awarded a compensation of Rs 19.24 lakh to the family of a 22-year-old man killed in a motorcycle accident in 2018, reported news agency PTI. Thane MACT member S N Shah passed the order on April 4, and a copy of the same was made available on Saturday. The deceased man's parents filed the petition under section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Advocate S T Kadam, representing the petitioners, said the accident occurred on the night of November 23, 2018, when the victim, Rahul Jadhav, was riding his motorcycle on the Mumbra-Panvel Road, and a speeding two-wheeler coming from the wrong side collided with the vehicle, reported PTI. Rahul sustained severe head injuries and was immediately admitted to a hospital in Nerul, where he succumbed to his injuries. An FIR was registered under section 304-A (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Motor Vehicles Act against the rider of the offending vehicle. The case proceeded ex parte against the respondent, Motiram Shalik Kadu, the registered owner of the offending motorcycle, due to non-submission of a written statement despite due notice, reported PTI. The petitioners relied on the FIR, eyewitness statements, spot panchnama, inquest panchnama, and the provisional cause of death certificate to establish the accident and the negligence of the respondent's vehicle, reported PTI. The Thane MACT ordered the opponent to deposit the compensation amount with it within a month. As per the order, the petitioners will receive Rs 4.62 lakh each and Rs 5 lakh each will be kept in fixed deposits in nationalized banks for five years in their names. Tribunal awards Rs 7.4 lakh compensation to woman injured in 2019 E-way accident The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Maharashtra's Thane district has awarded compensation of Rs 7.4 lakh to a woman who was injured in an accident on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway in 2019, reported PTI. The copy of the order passed by MACT Member S N Shah on April 3 was made available on Friday, reported PTI. In her claim petition in MACT, Sushma Ashok Bagal said the accident occurred on October 31, 2019, on the Expressway when she was travelling with her family in a car from Pune to Thane, reported PTI. A Shivneri bus, operated by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), crashed into the car, causing a three-car pile-up and leaving Bagal injured, the petition said. The notional income of Bagal, then 42, was estimated at Rs 8,000 per month. The tribunal held the bus driver liable for rash and negligent driving. It rejected MSRTC's contention that the accident was due to the negligence of multiple drivers, including the one operating Bagal's car and an unidentified vehicle allegedly taking a U-turn, reported PTI. The Tribunal awarded Rs 7.4 lakh compensation, including loss of future income and medical expenses, to Bagal. It ordered MSRTC to pay the amount with 8 per cent per annum from the date of filing the petition (October 2020). (With inputs from PTI)
12 April,2025 02:44 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
Mumbai: Fevicol ad pulled down after Western Railway objection
After an objection by Western Railway, an old Fevicol advertisement poster was removed from a hoarding at the Bandra Reclamation junction in Bandra (West) on Saturday. An old Fevicol advertisement had sparked controversy after the Western Railway on Friday formally objected to a hoarding at Bandra, managed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). The railway authorities have demanded the immediate removal of the hoarding, along with all similar advertisements displaying the image, and a formal apology for what they described as a "lapse in judgment." Railway officials stated that the advertisement "portrayed Indian Railways, particularly the Mumbai local trains, in a derogatory and misleading manner." “Our railways are undergoing an unprecedented transformation. Misrepresentation or negative portrayal is completely unacceptable. We have strongly objected to the ad and have requested the brand to immediately recall it,” said Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, speaking to mid-day. The advertisement featured an image from a bygone era, depicting overcrowded Mumbai local trains with commuters hanging off the footboard—a scene official said was being used unfairly for commercial gain. “In the last 11 years, the Mumbai Suburban Railway has undergone a massive overhaul, including the introduction of modern rakes, conversion from DC to AC systems, the launch of air-conditioned local trains, and several infrastructure upgrades aimed at improving passenger safety and convenience,” the Western Railway said in a formal letter. “Western and Central Railways together facilitate safe travel for over 70 lakh passengers daily. Any attempt to trivialize this system undermines the efforts and presents a false narrative to the public.” A letter of complaint has also been sent to MSRDC, the owner of the hoarding site. In response to queries, Pidilite Industries, which owns the Fevicol brand, said they would take down the hoarding by Saturday.
12 April,2025 01:32 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
Mumbai weather updates: City’s humid weather continues despite good air quality
Mumbai continued experiencing hot and humid weather on Saturday, with the maximum temperature reaching 34.7 degrees Celsius. According to the latest Mumbai weather updates from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai is expected to experience a clear sky on Saturday, April 12. Temperatures will range from a cool 25 degrees Celsius in the morning to a warm 35 degrees Celsius during the day. The relative humidity is 70 per cent. The sun rose at 06:25 AM and will set at 06:55 PM. According to the Mumbai weather updates of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Santacruz observatory in suburban Mumbai recorded a maximum temperature of 34.7 degrees Celsius and a minimum temperature of 25.6 degrees Celsius. The weather department's data showed that the city observatory in Colaba recorded a maximum temperature of 34.4 degrees Celsius and a minimum temperature of 26 degrees Celsius. The IMD’s latest Mumbai weather update forecasts a "mainly clear sky" for the city and its suburbs over the next 24 hours. Mumbai weather updates: City's AQI in 'good' category On April 12, the Central Pollution Control Board’s SAMEER app reported in its latest Mumbai weather updates that the city’s air quality remained in the 'good' category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 61 at 9:05 AM. As per the SAMEER app dashboard, many areas across Mumbai showed 'good' AQI. Bandra Kurla Complex recorded 'good' air quality with an AQI of 52. Colaba, Malad and Borivali recorded 'good' air quality with an AQI of 42, 37 and 58, respectively. Byculla, Vile Parle, Kandivali and Kurla recorded 'good' air quality, with an AQI of 35, 54, 77 and 94, respectively. Meanwhile, Deonar recorded 'moderate' air quality, with an AQI of 105. According to data from the SAMEER app, Navi Mumbai recorded air quality in the 'good' category with an AQI of 68, while Thane registered a 'good' AQI of 48. The air quality index from 0 to 100 is considered 'good', 100 to 200 'moderate', 200 to 300 'poor', 300 to 400 'very poor' and from 400 to 500 or above 'severe'.
12 April,2025 09:57 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
‘Realised attacker was ‘Vijay’ after seeing news reports on Saif attack'
A digital payment of Rs 6 at an Andheri West photocopying centre by the employer of Bangladeshi national Shariful Islam Shehzad, who stabbed actor Saif Ali Khan at his Bandra flat on January 16, helped Mumbai police trace his hideout in Thane’s Hiranandani Estate, revealed the charge sheet filed in Bandra court. The Mumbai Police, who had been desperately hunting for the masked man, got a hint after the intruder’s CCTV grab at Satguru Sharan building matched with the facial recognition system (FRS) at Andheri railway station. The investigators then came across footage from Andheri West of January 9, in which he was seen riding pillion with a person. The cops retrieved the details of the motorcyclist and the biker was identified as Amit Pandey, who had hired Shehzad as a member of his housekeeping staff. The investigating team then showed a CCTV grab of the attacker to Pandey who identified him as Vijay Das. After retrieving the mobile number of the attacker, the police traced Das to Hiranandani where he was hiding behind a barracks. Though the charge sheet revealed that Shehzad had entered Saif’s Bandra flat to demand Rs 1 crore, there is no detailed description of how he entered the apartment on January 16. The attacker was captured in the CCTV footage in which he was seen ascending the building’s stairs at 1.37 am and then descending at 2.37 am. According to the charge sheet, the accused was seen coming out of the compound of the Bharti Villa building in CCTV footage at 3.37 am on January 16. But none got a whiff of his whereabouts. A large team of Bandra police reached the crime spot and inspected the area that was cordoned off for gathering pieces of crucial evidence scattered on the floor at the flat. “The crime scene was examined with the help of a forensic mobile van, fingerprint experts and a dog team. In terms of evidence, 29 specimens such as a piece of knife blade, blood samples lying on the spot, blood stained pillow cover, blood stained mattress cover, blood stained load cover, blood stained cotton pad, blood stained tissue paper, plain sample of cotton cloth have been recovered from the scene (sic),” revealed the charge sheet. Pandey’s statement Pandey told Bandra police that he works as a supervisor in Shree Om Facility Services, a housekeeping manpower agency. He met Shehzad in November 2024. “The said agency also works to place the people coming to work in hotels at various places as per their requirement. In July 2024 one person came to me asking for housekeeping work in the acquaintance Name Vishal (full name not known) working in our agency. He told his name as Vijay Das (sic). At that time, I asked him for his Aadhaar card and other documents and he said that he would give them later. After about two days, I hired him as a housekeeper in a pub located at Worli Koliwada, where he provided accommodation with other men working in our agency. Vijay worked at the pub for four months,” Pandey said. “Vijay worked at Bandra till January 13. After that, I got information that he did not come to work for two to three days. At that time, I tried to call him repeatedly. But Vijay's phone was going off. Then on January 16 around 11 am I got a call from an unknown mobile number. He told me that Vijay Das was talking, about why I didn't come to work for two days. When asked about this, he told me that while coming to work, he had a fight with a person on the train at Mahim,” Pandey added. “Vijay told me that because the person was a policeman, he took him to the police station and locked him up. On the same day around 7.30 pm Vijay called me from the phone of a person called Rohit Yadav, who lives in our agency, Worli Koliwada, and said that he did not need money for food and drink. He asked me to send Rs 1000. I transferred the money. At the time, I instructed Rohit to go to work regularly. But I learnt that Vijay did not go to work that day also. When I inquired about Vijay from the other guys at work, I was informed that he was not even in the room.” “On the night of January 18, while I was watching TV at home, I saw the news about the attack on actor Saif Ali Khan. After seeing the face of the suspect and the shirt he was wearing, I realised that he was Vijay. I tried to contact him repeatedly but when I could not get through to him, I decided to report the matter to the police. But the next day I learnt from the TV that he was caught by the police,” he added. “When the police called me and questioned me, I learned his real name is Mohammad Shariful Sajjad Rohool Amin Fakir and he is a citizen of Bangladesh,” Pandey stated.
12 April,2025 08:47 AM IST | Mumbai | Diwakar Sharma | Shirish Vaktania
Mumbai: Submarine points to ensure waterlogging doesn’t hinder train ops
Flooding-related snarls on Mumbai’s railway lines may be a thing of the past with the innovation of “submarine points” where track points—configurations that allow trains to switch between parallel tracks—are not disturbed by waterlogging. The innovation is being patented by Indian Railways. The reduction in point machine failures during flooding significantly improves operational efficiency and will not lead to the detention of local trains, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Friday. Speaking about AC local trains, Vaishnaw said the 238 AC local trains for the city may initially come as an addition to existing rakes that will be slowly phased out. He said these rakes have been uniquely designed keeping in mind the needs of Mumbai’s commuters, promising a more comfortable and reliable travel experience. Vaishnaw also announced the launch of Kavach 5.0, a state-of-the-art safety and signalling system tailored for the suburban section, which is expected to significantly reduce the inter-train headway of locals, enabling more trains to run safely and efficiently. A track point that cannot be disturbed by waterlogging In addition, 132 stations across Maharashtra are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Of the 1300 stations nationwide under this initiative, many are nearing completion, with significant progress reported at many others. Work on about 104 stations across India has been completed. Mumbai One card Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday announced a single transport card ‘Mumbai One’ for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region on the lines of London’s Oyster card. The architecture of this will be ready in a month’s time. “Commuters will be able to use the single card for suburban railway, Metro, Monorail, buses and other forms of transport in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. We had discussions with the railway minister for railway onboarding and work will be completed in a month,” Fadnavis said. Konkan Railway merger Speaking about Konkan Railway, Fadnavis said that he had requested Railways to merge the zone with Indian Railways to improve its finances.
12 April,2025 08:41 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
75 emails, 1 day, and Maharashtra CM’s reply: Kandivali locals stir quick action
With no respite from issues like incomplete parabolic dividers, unregulated traffic and non-functional CCTVs, residents of Kandivali’s Lokhandwala township have raised their concerns with the chief minister's office (CMO). To the surprise of locals, within 24 hours of the complaint, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ office has responded to the complaint directing concerned officials to take appropriate action and measures to address the issue. Around 25,000 flats of Lokhandwala Complex, a township in Kandivali East, have been facing civic and traffic issues for a long period. As complaints to local authorities yielded no results, the members decided to escalate the issue with CM Fadnavis. A citizen forum called ‘We all Connect’, in consultation with other members of the township, decided to start a mass email movement, where citizens living in Lokhandwala township started emailing the chief minister's office about the grievances they are facing on a daily basis. Besides the Lokhandwala complex, the forum has members from the neighbouring Thakur Complex, Thakur Village, and Raheja Township (Upper Govind Nagar, Malad). Accordingly, from April 10, 75 individuals emailed the CM’s office about problems like–traffic, civic and security (non-functional CCTVs). To the surprise of many complainants, on April 11, the township members got a reply from the CM office on their complaint. “We were expecting an automated reply. But, to our surprise, many of us who have received a reply from the CM office have different officials marked in the CC of the email communication. This means someone has written the email personally and not a computer-generated reply,” Santy Shetty, founder president of the citizen forum, said. mid-day has been regularly reporting on the issues of the Lokhandwala township and helping locals to voice their grievances and get solutions to the same. Besides bad roads and incomplete dividers, the township members keep complaining about traffic issues, especially the growing menace of illegally parked vehicles in the narrow lanes of these areas. The residents are more concerned about criminal activities like–eve teasing, theft and petty crimes happening in the area. “Many of the CCTVs are not functional in the township. This is a real cause of concern for locals,” Shetty added.
12 April,2025 08:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev Shivadekar
Maharashtra: Std X, XII private students can now save a year
To save students from losing their academic year, the Maharashtra State Board has, for the first time, introduced a July-August 2025 exam attempt for SSC (Std X) and HSC (Std XII) private candidates. On Friday, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE), Pune, officially announced the start of online registration for private students. The move aims to benefit those who could not register for the February-March 2025 session. Devidas Kulal, secretary of the state board, stated in a letter that this is the first time the board is allowing private students to appear for the July-August exam using Form No 17. The goal is to ensure students don’t lose an academic year due to missed deadlines. As per the board’s instructions, candidates must fill out Form No 17 and pay the examination fees online via the official website: [www.mahahsscboard.in]. Once the online form and payment are completed, students must submit a printout of the application, the fee receipt, and original documents to the school or junior college selected in the form. Online registration will begin on April 15 and end on May 15. The board has also issued examination guidelines, which state that the same rules applicable to February-March 2025 private candidates will apply to the July-August session. There will be no acceptance of late fees—only regular fee payments will be allowed. All applications must be submitted online only, and offline submissions will not be accepted. Before filling the form, students are required to visit their selected school or junior college to collect essential details like school code, subject options, medium of instruction, and stream. The registration fee is Rs 1110, with an additional Rs 100 as processing fees, which can be paid via debit card, credit card, UPI, or net banking. Students must also upload scanned copies of original documents, including transfer certificates, if applicable. They are required to register through the “Student Corner” section on the official website. Students must choose their examination centre school based on their residential district and taluka. The selected schools and junior colleges will be responsible for conducting internal assessments, oral/practical exams, and other formalities. Additionally, students from Class 8 of the Maharashtra Open School Board are also eligible to apply as private candidates for SSC using Form No 17. After successful registration and verification, students will receive their Enrolment Certificate online. This will be followed by the release of the Examination Form, which must be filled out within the prescribed timeline. Private students Private board exam students are those who take their board exams without attending a regular school affiliated with the SSC or HSC Board. They are not enrolled in a school for the duration of their studies, but are still eligible to appear for the Std X and Std XII exams.
12 April,2025 08:09 AM IST | Mumbai | Archana Dahiwal
Mumbai water crisis: Parched at the Royal Palms
Residents of Piccadilly 1, a housing society at Royal Palms township in Aarey Milk Colony, are clinging to every last drop of water. Home to over 250 families, the society is entirely dependent on private water tankers for their daily needs—and the supply has suddenly stopped. Fears are mounting among residents and even commercial tenants in the area, who say they will soon be unable to carry out basic tasks like using the toilet. More than 250 families living in the building are running dangerously low on water. If the tanker supply doesn’t resume within a day, residents say the situation will become unbearable. A senior citizen couple told mid-day, “The government must intervene. Water is a basic necessity for every person.” A K Bhatnagar, a resident and senior citizen, said, “There are so many families here—senior citizens, children—and we are struggling to manage daily chores. We barely have any water left. If the tanker doesn’t come by Saturday, we will be forced to move out temporarily.” His wife, Suman Bhatnagar, added, “Why are we being made to suffer for no fault of ours? Water is essential for everything—from consumption to hygiene. We can’t even use the bathroom, and this could impact the health of senior citizens.” On Friday, mid-day visited the society and found many residents gathered in the office discussing contingency plans in case the tankers don’t resume supply. Sonal Ranade, the chairman of Piccadilly 2, said, “We have a population of nearly 1500 people. Since the past two days, we haven’t received any water tankers, and now our stock is almost over. Our building was constructed 18 years ago and has never had a BMC water connection. We require around 10 tankers a day, each costing R1200—we spend R22 lakh annually on tankers. We are buying mineral water for drinking, but what about basic needs like using the toilet?” Deepak Khamkar, another resident, said the shortage has affected his work. “I haven’t been able to go to office for the past two days because there is no water. If this continues, I will have to apply for leave.” Commercial buildings hit The water crisis isn’t just limited to residential areas. A commercial building in Royal Palms, housing over 100 offices, is also struggling. Naveen Kapoor, who runs a beverage business from the premises, said, “We have no water left in our office—not for the bathroom, not for the kitchen. We are buying mineral water to drink, but for everything else we have to step out. If the issue isn’t resolved in a day or two, we will have to shut office temporarily.” Arun Krishnan, who owns a software firm in the same building, said, “We have a staff of about 25 people. With no water from tankers, we are facing serious inconvenience. We have allowed employees to work from home for now. We just hope this gets resolved soon.” Residents Voices Arun Krishnan, software firm owner‘We have a staff of about 25 people. With no water from tankers, we are facing serious inconvenience. We have allowed employees to work from home for now’ A K Bhatnagar and Suman Bhatnagar, a resident and senior citizen of Piccadilly 1 building at Royal Palms township in Aarey Milk Colony‘There are so many families here—senior citizens, children—and we’re struggling to manage daily chores. We barely have any water left. If the tanker doesn’t come by Saturday, we’ll be forced to move out temporarily’ Deepak Khamkar, resident of Piccadilly 1 building at Royal Palms‘I haven’t been able to go to office for the past two days because there’s no water. If this continues, I will have to apply for leave’ Naveen Kapoor, beverage business owner‘We have no water left in our office—not for the bathroom, not for the kitchen. We’re buying mineral water to drink, but for everything else we have to step out. If the issue isn’t resolved in a day or two, we will have to shut office temporarily’ Sonal Ranade, chairman of Piccadilly 2 building at Royal Palms in Aarey Colony‘Since the past two days, we haven’t received any water tankers, and now our stock is almost over. Our building was constructed 18 years ago and has never had a BMC water connection’
12 April,2025 08:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
Mumbai water crisis: ‘We cannot survive if we sit idle like this’
Chhotelal Jaiswal, 70, has been sitting idle for the past two days. He has been a tanker driver for nearly 40 years. He has left his family back home at the village and has been with the tanker industry for more than half his life. “My daily earnings are my bread and butter, and we cannot survive if we sit idle like this. It has been two days now, and I have been surviving because of the community, but if it stretches too long, there will be problems.” Driver Chhotelal Jaiswal, with his water tanker, parked outside the water filling station in Prabhadevi Another tanker driver, Pradeep Kumar Tiwari, said the vehicles have been in a standstill for the past two days. “The new harassment now is that the traffic police have come and clamped the wheels of our vehicles and issued challans. This is a gross injustice. The tankers have no other utility other than supplying water, and since the protests, the tankers have been standing in one place with losses incurring every day, and now we are faced with fines,” he said. Santosh Singh, who supplies water in the central Mumbai region of Dadar and Prabhadevi, said the authorities are just harassing them. “This is not a strike, but non-cooperation against the BMC’s bullying tactics. The wells have been there since old times in Mumbai, and notices have been issued to well owners threatening them not to provide water to us,” he told mid-day. Santosh Singh (right), coordinator of Dadar and Prabhadevi tankers with other tanker owners hold the BMC notice issued to well owners “Water is supplied not just to housing societies, but about 195 tankers go to CSMT and Churchgate and even to railway officials’ bungalows in Malabar Hill, offices, road concreting works, major construction sites and all such installations,” Singh said. Flashing the notices slapped, another tanker operator, Naresh Dhuru, said, BMC notices have been issued to well owners asking them to remove pipes, pumps and installations. “The BMC has just two back up water tankers in wards, and they make just two rounds in the day. We have been the crucial lifeline of Mumbai. There was a similar thing in 2023. That time, assurances were given, a committee was formed, but it is all temporary and nothing happens after that.”
12 April,2025 07:58 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar