BMC not to implement water cut in Mumbai as Maharashtra govt assures supply

Representational Picture/iStock

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday said citizens would not have to face a ten percent water cut for now as the state government has promised to supply water to the metropolis from its quota.

The corporation had earlier proposed a ten percent cut in view of dwindling levels of reservoirs, caused by low rainfall during the 2023 monsoon, newswire PTI reported.

It had demanded that the Maharashtra government make water available from its reserve for Mumbai, the BMC said in a release on Friday.

"The proposed ten per cent cut will not happen due to the state government's assurance," it added.

In the previous two years, monsoon was active in the state till October 15, but last year there was no rain in October, the BMC said, adding that the reservoirs supplying water to Mumbai have 5.58 percent less water storage compared to the previous year.

As of March 1, the reservoirs had 42.67 percent of water storage.

The civic body, however, appealed to the citizens to use water judiciously.

Mumbai receives 3800 MLD (million litres per day) of water from Bhatsa, Upper Vaitarna, Middle Vaitarna, Tansa, Modak Sagar, Vihar and Tulsi reservoirs, located in Mumbai, Thane and Nashik districts.

The civic body has already cut water supply by 15 percent due to non-operational pumps at Pise pumping station in Thane district following a fire at a power transformer there.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Friday said water availability in dams in the state is just 44 per cent as compared to 61 per cent last year.

Speaking in the Legislative Council, Fadnavis said the condition in drought-prone Marathwada region was a matter of concern in view of the approaching summer, newswire PTI reported.

"The condition in Marathwada division is a matter of concern. Last year, (this time around) Marathwada had 47 per cent water in its dams. This year the storage is just 24 per cent. The region needs special prioritisation (with regards to water management)," the deputy CM said.

Nagpur division has 54 per cent water storage as against 55 per cent last year, while Amravati has 66 per cent, up from 57 per cent, which will suffice in summers, he added.

"Last time around the water storage in dams was 61 per cent, but this year it is 44 per cent. It is necessary to effectively manage water. Water will be first prioritised for drinking, then agriculture, followed by industry," he informed the House.

Emphasis is being given to desilting water bodies to create additional storage capacity under the Jal Yukt Shivar scheme, Fadnavis said. (With inputs from agencies)