Written by: Express News Service
2 min readMumbaiAug 7, 2010 01:38 AM IST
First published on: Aug 7, 2010 at 01:38 AM IST
The Tansa lake,which accounts for nearly 12 per cent of the city’s water supply,started overflowing on Friday morning. Subsequently,the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has partially lifted the water cut by releasing an additional 130 million litres per day (mld),taking the total daily supply to 3,030 mld from 2,900 mld. The water cut now stands at 10 per cent for all domestic users. Commercial users,however,will continue to face a 30 per cent water cut.
Three of the total six lakes supplying water to the city have started overflowing following consistent rainfall in catchment areas. Both Modaksagar and Tulsi lakes had started overflowing on July 27.
Municipal commissioner Swadheen Kshatriya said the scenario was far more satisfactory and encouraging as compared to last year. “The total availability of water at present is 9.75 lakh million litres as compared to 7.22 lakh million litres on the same day last year. However,we are still 26 per cent short of reaching the full supply level of 13 lakh million litres. We will take the next water cut review on August 15.”
Despite this,some worry still remains for the BMC as the two biggest lakes — Upper Vaitarna and Bhatsa – are still short of their full supply levels. Upper Vaitarna,accounting for 18 per cent of the water supply,is still four metres short of overflowing while the government-owned Bhatsa dam that supplies a massive 59 per cent of the supply is nine metres short of the mark.
Deputy municipal commissioner Dinesh Gondaliya said the water cuts could be completely lifted only when the two big lakes reach their full supply levels. “If the rainfall continues as it is now till the end of the season,we are hopeful that both the big lakes will start overflowing. Only then will the water scenario be completely comfortable for us.”
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