India, April 11 -- As Mumbai sizzles and the demand for water surges at the beginning of summer, several pockets in the city faced a water shortage as private tanker operators indefinitely suspended services on Thursday. The Mumbai Water Tanker Association (MWTA) is protesting a notice issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to the owners of private wells that supply tankers with water, to secure a licence from the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).

The notice directs well owners to adopt the CGWA's 2020 guidelines, requiring them to maintain 200 sq m or more around these wells, set up digital water flow meters, and submit groundwater reports to the CGWA. Furthermore, it allows tankers to be filled only within the prem...