Water Crisis in Uran: UMC Holds First General Body Meeting in Seven Years

Uran: Amid growing concerns over water scarcity, the Uran Municipal Council convened a general body meeting for the first time in seven years to address the region’s water resources. The meeting, held last week, was attended by Uran MLA Mahesh Baldi and focused on urgent water management strategies.

Uran taluka is on the brink of a severe water crisis as rapid industrialization and urban expansion continue to outpace the available water supply. The region primarily relies on the Ransai Dam, managed by MIDC, and the Punade Dam, overseen by the Water Resources Department. However, with daily water demand soaring to 50–60 million liters per day (MLD), these reservoirs are proving inadequate.

The Ransai Dam has a storage capacity of 10 million cubic meters (MCM), while the Punade Dam holds just 1.75 MCM—enough to sustain the taluka for only three to four months if they were the sole sources of water. As a result, Uran heavily depends on additional water supply from CIDCO’s Hetawane Dam and MJP’s Barvi Dam to meet its increasing demand.

Industrial Growth Driving Shortages

Uran’s water crisis has been exacerbated by the rapid growth of major industrial projects, including ONGC, JNPT, BPCL, and large logistics hubs linked to JNPT’s expansion. This industrial boom has created thousands of jobs, attracting a surge in population and accelerating urbanization. However, despite this expansion, water infrastructure has remained stagnant, forcing residents to depend on neighboring talukas for daily water needs.

Adding to the pressure is improved connectivity to Mumbai. The launch of local train services last year and the opening of the Nhava-Shivdi Atal Setu have further fueled migration, increasing the burden on existing water resources.

Call for Immediate Action

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, MLA Mahesh Baldi has urged authorities to take decisive action to expand Uran’s water resources. The issue is expected to be a key agenda item in the upcoming Uran General Assembly meeting on Friday (28th).

With the city’s water demand continuing to rise, local leaders and experts stress that without immediate infrastructure upgrades, Uran could face a worsening crisis in the coming years.