Navi Mumbai: Frustrated by the indifference of CIDCO officials, residents of Taloja Phase 1 and 2 have decided to stage a mass protest against the ongoing water crisis. The protest is scheduled for July 22 at Raigad Bhavan, CBD Belapur.

In a meeting held on July 7, the Taloja Federation announced their protest with the slogan ‘No Turning Back Now’. The original protest date was set for June 20 but was postponed due to unavoidable circumstances, as informed by Federation President Prasad Dhage Patil.

Residents have been grappling with severe water scarcity for the past year and a half. Despite heavy rains, there has been no relief from the man-made water crisis. Anurag Shrivastava, a resident of Sector 2, highlighted that some housing societies have not received a single drop of water for the past 5-6 months, forcing them to rely on expensive water tankers. Shrivastava noted that a society with 41 units spends nearly ₹8,000-₹10,000 per week on tankers, with costs multiplying for larger societies.

The meeting saw attendance from members of 70 housing societies, all expressing their anger and support for the protest. Both men and women from as many societies as possible in Taloja Phase 1 and 2 have shown interest in participating. Over the next fifteen days, federation members and office-bearers will work on raising awareness to ensure the protest's success, according to President Patil.

The protestors will demand:

1. Faster and equal water supply for all,

2. Operationalizing the water tank in Phase 2,

3. Identifying and improving zones with low water pressure,

4. Stopping tankers from filling water at the Taloja Phase 1 water tank,

5. Allowing selected citizens to visit the water tank for transparency in water distribution,

6. Transferring CIDCO official Rahul Sarode due to his unsatisfactory response to repeated complaints.

The Federation also plans to send letters to various political parties to garner their support for the protest.