India, Jan. 21 -- Kapadia Nagar, a residential complex comprising 24 buildings in the L ward in Kurla West, has been grappling with acute water shortage for at least two months, residents told Hindustan Times. The shortage affects any four buildings at a given time, which do not receive a drop of water for days, till a similar water cut is imposed on four other buildings, the residents alleged.

"The water supply resumes whenever we complain to the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation). But it is cut off again two days later," said Asna Huda, a resident of one of the buildings.

Officials from the BMC's water department, however, attributed the problem to pilferage by a section of Kapadia Nagar's nearly 5,000 residents. Those living in...