Khar Danda Koliwada residents battle daily water crisis amid rising temperatures

As the temperatures spike the residents of Mumbais Khar Danda Koliwada are reeling under a severe water crisis that has disrupted daily life and raised serious concerns about basic civic infrastructure What was once an intermittent issue has now become a persistent problem for localsResidents across the locality identify water scarcity as their most urgent concern While some infrastructure upgrades including pipeline improvements are underway many remain skeptical about whether these efforts will ensure a stable and reliable supplyResidents forced to rely on tankers go days without waterRakhi Ambekar 38 a homemaker residing near Ram Mandir described the severity of the situation saying that the shortage has persisted since last monsoonldquoWe sometimes rely on water tankers Currently water supply is available for barely an hour Just recently we had no water for two to three daysrdquo she saidAmbekar added that she is unsure whether formal complaints have been lodged as she lives in a rented accommodation During peak summer the situation becomes so dire that her family often temporarily leaves the cityldquoEven when water comes with proper pressure it takes about 15 minutes to fill our tanksrdquo she noted highlighting the inefficiency of supplyAlthough she clarified that the water quality remains clean and has not caused health issues she emphasised that low pressure remains a constant challengeIrregular supply and quality concerns persistDhanashree Khare 26 a resident of Warinpada echoed similar concerns Having lived in the area for over two decades she noted a steady decline in water availability over the past two to three yearsldquoPeople here have registered complaints with the BMC but no action has been takenrdquo she saidKhare acknowledged that a recently installed pipeline has somewhat improved the situation However disruptions continueldquoEvery alternate month there is still a water cut for one to two daysrdquo she added while also raising concerns about poor water quality in her areaLow pressure identified as key issueLocal civic representatives have acknowledged the gravity of the crisis According to BMC corporator Chintamani Nivate low water pressure is a primary factor affecting supply in areas such as Gazdhar Bandh and Khar DandaldquoEven if water is supplied for a few hours insufficient pressure prevents it from reaching several householdsrdquo he said adding that similar issues are being reported across MumbaiBMC corporator Chintamani Nivate inspects a pipeline work site in the area PicSpecial ArrangementCivic authorities promise improvementsOfficials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC maintain that corrective steps have been taken According to a civic official water supply duration has been extended from the earlier 5 pmndash8 pm schedule to now continue until 10 pmHowever residents on the ground report that the extended timings have not fully resolved the issue particularly due to inconsistent pressureThe official attributed the temporary low pressure to occasional water cuts stating that normal supply is usually restored within a day or two and that the situation will require continued monitoringWater crisis emerges as top civic concernWhile issues such as cleanliness and infrastructure persist water scarcity has emerged as the defining civic challenge in the area Residents are increasingly demanding a consistent supply better pressure management and stronger accountability from authoritiesWith expectations mounting local representatives have assured that focused efforts will be made to address the crisisldquoMy aim is simple people should get proper water every day without facing these recurring issuesrdquo Nivate said