August 22, 2025: Residents of Navi Mumbai are facing worsening water shortages as delays plague a major supply scheme intended to secure the city’s long-term needs. The City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco), tasked with planning and infrastructure, has been developing an ambitious project to draw water from the Balganga river. Once operational, it was expected to reduce dependence on external municipal sources and provide equitable distribution across residential, industrial and commercial zones.
However, repeated delays have left the scheme incomplete. Administrative hurdles, contractor setbacks, land acquisition disputes and mounting costs have all pushed the project beyond multiple deadlines. Officials say permissions and clearances from several government departments have slowed progress further.
The shortfall is being acutely felt across Navi Mumbai, where population growth continues to drive up demand. In recent weeks, residential nodes such as Kharghar, Taloja, Panvel and Kalamboli have reported erratic supply, forcing households to rely on private tankers. Many housing societies have begun rationing water, while families complain of rising costs and disrupted routines.
The impact is also being felt in the industrial zones, where manufacturers and service providers rely on uninterrupted water supply. Industry bodies have warned that shortages could hit productivity and dampen investor confidence in one of Maharashtra’s most significant planned hubs. Civic activists argue that completing the Balganga scheme is essential not just for household convenience but also for economic stability.
Cidco officials insist efforts are under way to expedite work, with pending technical clearances nearing conclusion. They have introduced temporary measures such as additional pumping and redistribution to ease shortages. Yet residents remain sceptical, citing earlier assurances that never materialised. Experts caution that unless the project is delivered swiftly, Navi Mumbai’s growth story risks being undermined by a basic resource scarcity.
Source: Urban Acres
