THANE, April 4 -- At the peak of summer, when households need water the most, residents across Kalyan and Dombivli say they are receiving foul-smelling, sewage-mixed water, if at all. With supply slashed by over 60% in several areas, families are skipping baths, rationing every bucket, and rearranging daily routines around erratic timings. The simmering crisis boiled over on March 30, when hundreds of women gathered outside the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) headquarters, demanding clean, regular and adequate water. The protest saw hundreds of women from Kalyan staging a demonstration outside KDMC's office. Former corporator Manoj Rai, along with corporators Madhur Mhatre and Puja Gaikwad, led a delegation that staged a sit-in inside the civic body's water engineer's office for over two hours. Residents from Govindwadi, Khadegolvali, Kailash Nagar and Asholepada complained not just of shortages but of contaminated water that smells like sewage. Rai pointed to ageing infrastructure, pipelines laid 25-35 years ago, along with encroachments and illegal connections as key reasons behind the crisis. Sewer lines running parallel to water pipelines have increased the risk of contamination, leading to frequent illnesses. "The supply is so inadequate that working individuals and schoolchildren are often forced to skip bathing," Rai said. In several housing societies, water supply has reduced drastically. Residents of Metro Residency in Kalyan East said that what was once a stable supply of two four-hour slots daily has now shrunk to barely two hours in the evening and 45 minutes late at night. Resident Makrand Pawar said, "We are receiving only about 35% of our earlier supply, which is insufficient for basic needs. KDMC told us our society has approval for 250 flats, while we have 356. When asked why an Occupation Certificate was issued, they had no answer." In Dombivli East, residents report similar issues. Raju Nalawade from Milap Nagar said, "We don't even get enough water to fill half our tanks. Supply has dropped to 30% and comes with very low pressure. Complaints temporarily improve the situation, but cuts resume after a few days." The crisis has also triggered serious allegations of systemic irregularities. Vinod Mishra, a real estate developer and Kalyan East resident, alleged that shortages are being exacerbated by corruption. "The water shortage appears to be deliberate. Developers and residents are forced to obtain illegal connections by paying large sums. While issuing Commencement Certificates and Occupation Certificates, authorities say water will be provided later. But to complete projects and hand over possession, builders are pushed towards illegal means," he said. Another developer, requesting anonymity, alleged uneven distribution. While Kalyan West reportedly receives at least two hours of daily supply, parts of Kalyan East get less than 45 minutes. In Dombivli, some large residential complexes enjoy 24x7 supply, while neighbouring societies struggle for even an hour....