Dams Overflow, but Kalwa-Mumbra Thirsts for Water

NCP (Sharad Pawar group) and BJP hold protests in Thane.

Even as dams and reservoirs supplying water to Mumbai and Thane district are overflowing, residents of Kalwa and Mumbra continue to face severe water shortages. The crisis has triggered political protests, with both the NCP (Sharad Pawar group) and the BJP taking to the streets on Wednesday.

NCP leader Dr. Jitendra Awhad, along with former opposition leader Shanu Pathan and local women, stormed into the Thane Municipal Corporation headquarters, demanding immediate relief. He warned that if the issue was not resolved by Dussehra, officials, including the commissioner, would be locked inside their offices. Awhad accused the civic body of deliberately diverting water to other areas while neglecting Kalwa-Mumbra, pointing to non-functional pumps, political interference, and alleged mismanagement.

Meanwhile, in Kalwa, BJP MLA Sanjay Kelkar led an angry demonstration at the ward committee office. Women carrying earthen pots marched through the streets, eventually smashing them in protest against the erratic supply. They demanded equal distribution, immediate repairs of leaking pipelines, and connection of the newly built water tank near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital to the main supply line.

Civic officials admitted that frequent disruptions in supply from MIDC over the past months have worsened the situation. They assured that repairs are underway and water supply will be maintained for three to four hours in the morning and evening until the problem is resolved.

The crisis has left Kalwa-Mumbra residents frustrated, especially during the festive season, when access to basic water supply remains uncertain despite the district’s dams brimming with water.