Mumbaikars, brace for an increase in water cut

From chawls to high-rises, all residents are facing water issues in Koldongri; (right) Jayesh Kapadia, a resident of Laxmi Kripa building, claims they started facing water issues after a new line was laid to the Veravali reservoir

The insufficient rain in catchment areas means there is possibility of an increase in water cuts in the city from 10 per cent to 15 per cent. If the rain continues in this manner, by the end of this month, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) could take the decision.

According to the BMC lake levels data, there was 34.09 per cent water stock in the seven lakes till Monday morning. Last year, there was 82.09 per cent water stock at the same time. The total capacity of the lakes is 14.47 lakh million litres. Currently there is 4.93 lakh million litres water stock in the lakes. "The monsoon was delayed, also there were no continuous good showers in the catchment areas. We are hoping for good and continued showers in the catchment area. There is prediction of good rain in the next four days. We are hoping the lake levels will rise rapidly," said a BMC official.

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"But if there is no expected rain in the catchment areas, we won't have a choice. We will take a review of lake levels at the end of the month. If water stock is not sufficient we will have to think of increasing the water cut by 5 per cent," the official added.

The lakes start overflowing after the first 10 days of July. Last year Modak Sagar and Tulsi lake were overflowing by this period. But this year there is only 56.75 per cent water in Modak Sagar and 70.39 per cent water in Tulsi.

Remembering the 2009 water crisis, another official said, that year they started a 30 per cent water cut for residents, commercial users and around 50 per cent water for industries in July. "Later that year, the city faced a 10 per cent water cut for the whole year," the official added further.

Major areas affected

Major areas of Andheri East and even parts of Sion Koliwada are suffering due to the water cut. Some in Andheri claim it is more than the 10 per cent declared by the BMC. A BMC official claimed there might be a local issue for this.

In Andheri, Koldongri has been facing acute water shortage for the past few days. A resident from a chawl in Koldongri said that the water supply was fine till last week. But suddenly from Friday, the water supply was cut by almost 50 per cent.

"Earlier our tanks at home filled up within a half hour. But now the pressure is so low that water just doesn't reach that height. We have put drums outside our homes and filled them with the help of buckets," said Deepak Prabhu, a resident of Koldongri.

The issue is not only limited to slums or chawls but is seen even in housing societies. "We have 80 houses in our buildings and are facing water issues after a new line was laid to Veravali reservoir two months ago. Earlier we used to get water from 6 pm to 8.30 pm. And the society tank got full within that period and we had 24 hours water supply. But now the tank does not fill up even half," said Jayesh Kapadia of Laxmi Kripa building in Koldongri.

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Abhijeet Samant, a former corporator, said, "A few parts in Andheri East are facing acute shortage of water. After interaction with BMC officials, we came to know that the water level is not proper in the reservoir at Veravali. So instead of 10 per cent, residents are facing at least 50 per cent cut."

Former corporator Ravi Raja claimed areas like Sion Koliwada, Indira Nagar, Kopri Agar and Almeida Compound are also facing a water shortage. "There is 10 per cent water cut, but we are receiving 30 to 40 per cent less water. People are complaining to me about the water shortage. I had talked to officials. But there was no solution," Raja said.

Officialspeak

Hydraulic Engineer Purrushotam Malwade said, "We have received water shortage complaints from Andheri East. But the level of Veravali reservoir is normal. Veravali reservoir holds 460 million litres of water at normal times. Currently, there is 445 million litres. There might be a possibility of local issues for the water shortage. I have asked the officials concerned to find out."