Mumbai: Water cut to stay for at least another week

Lakes have less stock than last year despite heavy rain

A good spell of rain has pushed the water stock in lakes to over 74 per cent, but the BMC is taking its time to withdraw the 10 per cent water cut. With the forecast of a dry August, the civic body has decided to wait for another week before taking any decision in this regard.

There are seven lakes that supply water to the city. Two are within city limits (Tulsi and Vihar) while five are on the outskirts (Bhatsa, Tansa, Upper Vaitarna, Middle Vaitarna and Modak Sagar), with a combined capacity to store 14.47 lakh million litres of water. All the lakes except Bhatsa and Middle Vaitarna received more rain than last year, but despite this, the stock in lakes is comparatively less than in 2022. 

Last year the stock was 88 per cent on July 30. The main reason for less stock is less rain in Bhatsa. The lake was 85 per cent filled on the same day last year, compared to only 66 per cent this year. Middle Vaitarna filled up to 90 per cent this year, but Upper Vaitarna filled up to merely 50 per cent despite more rain.

The BMC imposed 10 per cent water cut since July 1 when the lakes had less than 7 per cent stock.  “The stock is only 74 per cent compared to 90 per cent last year and there is prediction of a dry spell in August. Therefore, a review will be taken after a week in August and then a decision will be declared,” said Purushottam Malavade, chief engineer of BMC’s hydraulic department.

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