Dombivli Water Crisis: Hundreds Protest Outside MIDC Office Over Irregular Supply, Demand Cancellation Of 36-Hour Shutdown

In Dombivli's MIDC region, hundreds of residents took to the streets outside the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) office on Wednesday, protesting the proposed 36-hour water shutdown planned for Friday and Saturday. Frustrated by the irregular and low-pressure water supply they've endured for days, the protesters confronted Audumber Alat, a deputy engineer in the water supply department, demanding immediate action to resolve the worsening water supply issues.

The residents accused executive engineer Shrikant Raut of being aware of the protest ahead of time but leaving the office before they could meet. This further fueled their anger. They vehemently opposed MIDC's decision to suspend water supply for 36 hours, as they were already grappling with inadequate and inconsistent water provision.

Baban Kale of the Senior Citizens’ Association warned that if their demands were not met, residents would launch a more vigorous protest inside the MIDC office following the scheduled shutdown. Women, including Ashwini Bhandari, joined the protest, expressing their frustration over the ongoing water shortage. Notable participants included former corporator Bhalchandra Mhatre, Sanjay Chavan, and Raju Nalawade.

Sanjay Chavan submitted a memorandum to MIDC, questioning the irregular supply despite sufficient water availability from Barvi Dam. He pointed out that residents were not receiving water at sufficient pressure, even though they were charged higher rates. Chavan demanded the immediate disconnection of unauthorized water connections and the withdrawal of the proposed 36-hour shutdown.

The protesters insisted that MIDC must first address leakages, water theft, and distribution-related issues before imposing an extended shutdown on residents already facing an unreliable water supply.