Thane’s Ghodbunder area is facing a renewed water crisis, with residents in several localities relying on tankers despite the presence of municipal water tanks and pumping infrastructure, according to a report by Loksatta – Thane published on September 12, 2026. The issue was raised during the Thane Municipal Corporation’s general body meeting, where corporators questioned how new construction permissions were being granted when existing residents were not receiving a reliable water supply.
Residents in parts of Ghodbunder are reportedly receiving water at low pressure and in insufficient quantities. The shortages have forced households in several areas to depend on tanker water for their daily needs. The matter was discussed ahead of Ganeshotsav, bringing renewed attention to a problem that local representatives said has persisted across the growing corridor.
Corporators also questioned the condition and operation of the existing municipal infrastructure. According to the report, Ghodbunder has water tanks and pumps, but some tanks do not contain water and some pumps are not functioning. Several related works have also remained incomplete for years, raising questions about whether the available infrastructure is being maintained and used effectively.
The dispute extends beyond immediate supply failures. Councillors alleged that large construction projects continue to receive permissions even though the municipal system does not have adequate capacity to meet the needs of current residents. The discussion therefore placed the water shortage within a wider planning question: whether approvals for new development are being aligned with the capacity of essential urban services.
Councillor Anita Thakur said residents were being forced to depend on tanker water and that many parts of the area were receiving water at low pressure and in inadequate quantities. She described the issue as one affecting residents’ daily lives, rather than being limited to a routine water-supply complaint.
Councillor Kamal Chaudhary questioned the purpose of having a water tank if it had no water and the pumps connected to the system were not operating. The concern points to a gap between the physical presence of civic infrastructure and its ability to deliver a functioning service to residents.
The report said councillors warned that an agitation could be launched if the water problem was not resolved immediately. Chaudhary also said the issue would be raised again in the next meeting if residents’ difficulties were not addressed. The report did not specify a municipal deadline for restoring regular supply, the number of affected households, the quantity of water being supplied through tankers or the reasons for the non-functioning pumps.
