Modak Sagar overflows,city gets over four times usable water

The reservoir is the third lake to overflow this year on account of heavy rainfall. The Tulsi and Tansa dams also reached full capacity on July 12 and July 14 respectively.

“Modak Sagar filled to its optimum capacity at around 6.25 am Wednesday. Three dams have already been filled this monssoon,which is a big relief for us. The difference between the water level this year and last year is vast,” said an official from the hydraulic department.

As on July 17,seven lakes supplying water to city recorded a total rainfall of 10,972.02 mm in the catchment areas. The heavy rain has led the combined lake levels of usable water content to rise to over nine lakh million litres – over four times its level in 2012.

Meanwhile Upper Vaitarna is climbing slowly to its limit of 603.51metres. The level of Bhatsa lake – supplying 59 per cent of the water need – is currently 130.95 meters. It has yet to reach its capacity of 142.07 metres.

Vihar lake,which along with Tansa and Tulsi account for around 10 per cent of the city’s water supply,is also nearing capacity. It’s current water level stands at 78.69 meters,two metres short of its limit.

The city’s annual water requirement has been pegged at 12.5 lakh million litres. At present,BMC supplies 3,228 million litres per day (mld),short of the 4,200 mld city demand.