New Delhi: Mumbai authorities have acknowledged that illegal groundwater extraction is taking place on a significant scale across suburban areas. However,
despite serious concerns about enforcement gaps, no formal police complaints have been registered to date, raising questions about enforcement and accountability in the city.
The issue has now reached the judiciary after an environmental activist, Sureshkumar Dhokha, approached the court, seeking action against those involved and questioning the authorities’ inaction. The petition highlights a gap between regulatory awareness and actual implementation on the ground.
According to the formal notice, Dhokha highlighted that Maharashtra State Groundwater Authority had earlier received multiple complaints under the violation of the Maharashtra Groundwater (Development and Management) Act, 2009.
“Authorities have officially confirmed illegal groundwater extraction, yet no concrete enforcement action has followed. This is not a lack of law- it is failure to implement law,” Dhokha stated.
Experts and activists warn that unchecked groundwater extraction can have long-term environmental consequences, including depletion of water resources and ecological imbalance. The lack of FIRs, despite officials admitting violations, has further intensified concerns about governance and regulatory oversight.
The case is expected to bring scrutiny to how civic bodies monitor and control groundwater usage, especially in a city already facing increasing pressure on its water supply.
With summer approaching and tanker demand increasing in the city, the residents will have to deal with lots of problems. Experts also warned that unchecked extraction could be a bad move unless authorities move swiftly from acknowledgement to enforcement.
