KALYAN: Residents of the upscale Birla Vanya township in Kalyan staged a protest, alleging an acute water shortage and unfulfilled promises by the developer. The residential complex, located in Kalyan’s Shahad area, comprises seven high-rise towers of 38 storeys and houses over 1,200 families. Residents have been occupying the flats since 2024, even as some parts of the project remain incomplete. According to residents, the developer had assured an uninterrupted and adequate water supply at the time of sale. However, for the past week—and intermittently over the last month—the water supply has been erratic, forcing residents to depend on private tankers for their daily needs. Residents alleged that despite collecting two years’ advance maintenance, the developer failed to provide the promised amenities. They further claimed that before securing the Occupancy Certificate (OC) and Completion Certificate (CC) for the entire project, the developer recently sought additional maintenance charges, a move that was later withdrawn following objections. The water crisis, however, has worsened. Residents said the township is currently dependent on water tankers supplied through the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), but insufficient pressure and supply have aggravated the situation. They alleged that the developer had not secured an adequate water connection from KDMC to meet the needs of such a large complex. “The situation has started affecting our daily routine. At times, there is no water for basic household use,” a resident said. On Thursday, residents gathered at the developer’s office within the complex to protest and demanded immediate intervention. They sought assurances directly from the CEO of Birla Estates Private Limited. During the protest, a company representative facilitated a phone conversation with the CEO, who assured residents that the issue would be resolved at the earliest. On Friday, a group of residents also met KDMC water supply officials, who reportedly said no formal complaint had been received from the developer regarding the water supply issues. Birla Estates, in its official statement, said, “The water supply civic challenge in Kalyan has also impacted Birla Vanya, and we are committed to resolving this at the earliest. We have taken immediate, proactive short-term measures with supplementary tanker water supply to mitigate the impact. We are also working closely with KDMC to expedite infrastructure enhancements, including a new dedicated pipeline that will serve as a sustainable, long-term solution.“
