Residents of Karanjade took to the streets on Tuesday, 18^th June, to protest against the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) due to the prolonged water shortage issues plaguing their area. Led by the Karanjade People's Foundation, the protest was sparked by frustrations over CIDCO's mismanagement and failure to address the critical water supply problems affecting the community.

 The protest was led by social activist Vinod Sable and former sarpanch Rameshwar Angre, accompanied by a large number of residents including women, gathered early morning to block the JNPT highway route ‘dhadak morcha’ to draw attention to their plight. Residents have been grappling with severe water scarcity for several years, forcing many to sell their homes and relocate.

"It's been months of suffering with inadequate water supply. CIDCO developed this area without proper planning for water infrastructure, leaving us dependent on purchased water”, pointed Vinod Sable. He warned of escalating protests if immediate action is not taken by CIDCO to resolve the water crisis.

The protest aimed to pressure CIDCO into addressing the demands put forth by residents, which include the construction of a new water channel along JNPT highway to supply 20 MLD (Million Liters per Day) of water to Karanjade, and the establishment of a separate water tank in Sector-6 to ensure continuous supply to Hillside Societies.

During the protest, Executive Engineer Praneet Mool of CIDCO met with the residents, promising to consider their demands seriously. The demands also include uninterrupted water supply during shutdowns, reservation of Hetawane dam water for Karanjade, and improved management of water quality.

"We consider this a victory for the residents who have bravely voiced their concerns. The administration has shown positive intent in resolving our water crisis," stated Rameshwar Angre, expressing hope for a swift resolution to the longstanding issue.