Lake levels touch 4-year high: BMC

Tulsi,Vihar and Tansa lakes account for nearly 10 per cent of the city’s water supply. Their water levels are at 138,78 and 125 metres and are inching towards their maximum capacity of 139.19,80.12 and 128.63 metres.

The level of Bhatsa lake,which meets 59 per cent of the city’s water needs and has a maximum limit of 142 metres,has risen to over 118 metres. Its usable water content stands at two lakh million litres daily – double the amount recorded in 2011. Catchment area of the lake has received around 700 mm of rain — the highest so far in four years.

Upper Vaitarna and Modak Sagar account for 29 per cent of the city’s water supply. Upper Vaitarna has risen to 596 metres – two metres higher than its minimum limit of 594.44 metres. Modak Sagar’s level,at 154 metres,is close to its maximum level of 163.15 metres.

V K Rajeev,director,India Meteorological Department,said,“This monsoon,Mumbai has had more rainfall as of June 30 than that recorded in previous years – with 954.7 mm rainfall in Colaba alone. The calculation regarding volume of rainfall remaining this monsoon is yet to be done,but we can expect ample rain,” he said.

(with inputs from Aparajita Pande)