Acute water shortage in Kalyan-Dombivli: sewage-tainted water, 60% cuts spark residents’ protest

The protest saw hundreds of women from Kalyan staging a demonstration outside KDMC’s office. Former corporator Manoj Rai, along with corporators Madhur Mhatre and Puja Gaikwad, led a delegation that staged a sit-in inside the civic body’s water engineer’s office for over two hours

THANE: At the peak of summer, when households need water the most, residents across Kalyan and Dombivli say they are receiving foul-smelling, sewage-mixed water, if at all. With supply slashed by over 60% in several areas, families are skipping baths, rationing every bucket, and rearranging daily routines around erratic timings. The simmering crisis boiled over on March 30, when hundreds of women gathered outside the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) headquarters, demanding clean, regular and adequate water.

Kalyan, India –March.28. Some areas of Kalyan-Dombivli do not get water for almost a week. The residents solely have to depend on tanker water pic of water problem in kalyan west. in kalyan . India, on Thursday,March.28.2019 (Photo by Rishikesh Choudhary/HT)

Women lead protest

The protest saw hundreds of women from Kalyan staging a demonstration outside KDMC’s office. Former corporator Manoj Rai, along with corporators Madhur Mhatre and Puja Gaikwad, led a delegation that staged a sit-in inside the civic body’s water engineer’s office for over two hours.

Residents from Govindwadi, Khadegolvali, Kailash Nagar and Asholepada complained not just of shortages but of contaminated water that smells like sewage. Rai pointed to ageing infrastructure, pipelines laid 25–35 years ago, along with encroachments and illegal connections as key reasons behind the crisis. Sewer lines running parallel to water pipelines have increased the risk of contamination, leading to frequent illnesses.

“The supply is so inadequate that working individuals and schoolchildren are often forced to skip bathing,” Rai said.

Daily life disrupted

In several housing societies, water supply has reduced drastically. Residents of Metro Residency in Kalyan East said that what was once a stable supply of two four-hour slots daily has now shrunk to barely two hours in the evening and 45 minutes late at night.

Resident Makrand Pawar said, “We are receiving only about 35% of our earlier supply, which is insufficient for basic needs. KDMC told us our society has approval for 250 flats, while we have 356. When asked why an Occupation Certificate was issued, they had no answer.”

In Dombivli East, residents report similar issues. Raju Nalawade from Milap Nagar said, “We don’t even get enough water to fill half our tanks. Supply has dropped to 30% and comes with very low pressure. Complaints temporarily improve the situation, but cuts resume after a few days.”

Corruption and uneven distribution

The crisis has also triggered serious allegations of systemic irregularities. Vinod Mishra, a real estate developer and Kalyan East resident, alleged that shortages are being exacerbated by corruption.

“The water shortage appears to be deliberate. Developers and residents are forced to obtain illegal connections by paying large sums. While issuing Commencement Certificates and Occupation Certificates, authorities say water will be provided later. But to complete projects and hand over possession, builders are pushed towards illegal means,” he said.

Another developer, requesting anonymity, alleged uneven distribution. While Kalyan West reportedly receives at least two hours of daily supply, parts of Kalyan East get less than 45 minutes. In Dombivli, some large residential complexes enjoy 24x7 supply, while neighbouring societies struggle for even an hour.

Not enough for growing population

Mahesh Daware, an engineer from KDMC’s water department, acknowledged the issue. “We are aware of the situation and are working to resolve it. KDMC has a sanctioned quota of 324 MLD but currently receives 370 MLD from the Ulhas and Kalu rivers, treated at Mohile and Barwe plants. We have requested an additional 140 MLD from the government and are awaiting approval,” he said.

An anonymous KDMC official added that the current quota is based on the 2011 census, when the population was around 1.2 million. It has since surged to nearly 2.5 million, while infrastructure has failed to keep pace.