To add to city’s water woes,tanker operators hike prices

Amin Patel,MLA from South Mumbai,said,“Regular water shortage in many parts of South Mumbai such as Bhendi Bazaar,Mumbai Central and Grant Road is proving a major problem for residents. Due to the increased summer demand coupled with the ongoing water-related work in these areas,the water tanker lobby has increased their prices to Rs 1,000-1,200.”

“The rate of a tanker has increased by 10-12 per cent in the past few days due to water shortage in South Mumbai. Typically we deploy about 300 tankers in the South Mumbai area,each of which make an average of five trips. Now due to the water shortage these tankers are making six-seven trips per day,” said Rajesh Thakur,secretary,Water Tanker Association of Mumbai.

“One water tanker holds 10,000-12,000 litres of water and is priced at Rs 700-1,000,” he said. But when Newsline called individual tanker suppliers operating in South Mumbai,the rates quoted were in the range of Rs 1,500-1,700 per tanker.

Repair work on the Marol-Ruparel underground tunnel last week led to water cuts in South Mumbai and some parts of western suburbs.

In the coming weeks,water woes are expected to worsen as parts of South Mumbai will face a 100 per cent water cut while parts of Central Mumbai and western suburbs will face a 25 per cent water cut between May 18 and 21,due to the civic administration’s repair work of a major component of the Marol-Ruparel underground water tunnel.

“We do not have a fixed rate for tankers,we fix our prices depending on the need for water and the availability. Typically,the prices in South Mumbai are around Rs 1,200-1,800,” said Vikas,a tanker operator in Colaba.