Navi Mumbai: CIDCO's announcement of a complete suspension of water supply to several Navi Mumbai nodes including Dronagiri, Ulwe, Kharghar, and Taloja for a period of 48 hours has once again got residents seeking for accountability and transparency in water distribution.
No water was supplied to these nodes from July 9 (Wednesday) to July 10 (Thursday), citing emergency repair work on the Hetwane pipeline near the Kharpada bridge.
While the supply is expected to resume on Friday, July 11,the announcement has drawn sharp reactions from citizens of Kharghar, where water scarcity is stated to be a chronic issue.
Citizen have voiced their concern on social media that even on regular days, supply is erratic in many parts of the node, especially in the 12 villages where water is made available for barely 30 minutes, twice a day.
“What we’re experiencing is not a one-off inconvenience but a prolonged crisis. At times, there is no supply at all for two to three consecutive days,” said a resident from Owe village. “If the water shortage is real, then how are private water tankers operating seamlessly across the area?” questioned another.
The recurring scarcity has prompted Activists and residents alike to demand that the issue be addressed at the ongoing state legislative session.
Social media campaigns such as #KhargharchaPaniPrashnaAdhiveshnathManda and #LakVaitagliAhet have been trending on social media, urging the government and planning agencies to take urgent corrective measures.
While CIDCO has stated that supply will resume on Friday but with low pressure and reduced quantity and residents have been urged to use water judiciously during this period, citizens feel it is time for more than just temporary fixes.
They are calling for a permanent and transparent solution to what has now become a pressing civic issue. " For over three days there is no water in Ulwe node, the hardship faced by residents in terms of arranging for alternate means of water, the financial burden faced by socieites, needs to be accounted for," said a resident.
