Water scene better but not yet good,cuts to continue

Despite steadily rising levels in the lakes following an early monsoon,the citys water worries are far from over.

For the first time this year,the total water content in the lakes supplying water to the city is more than that at the same time last year. However,BMC officials maintained that since last years monsoon was very poor,last years levels cannot be considered as a yardstick for good rainfall and that the 15 per cent water cut will have to continue till the levels match those of the years with better rainfall.

The total useful content in the six lakes as on Wednesday was 150 billion litres,better than 148 billion litres on the same day last year,but far short of the average 603 billion litres on this date in 2005,2006,2007 and 2008 .

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An official of the hydraulic engineering department,requesting anonymity,said the cut will have to be extended beyond July 15 as the current available water is only 25 per cent of the quantity that can be termed comfortable.

The full supply level when all six lakes Tansa,

Modak Sagar,Upper Vaitarna,Bhatsa,Tulsi and Vihar overflow,is over 1300 billion litres.

Only if the current stock rises rapidly by July 15 and reaches close to the average of 2005-2008 can we consider lifting the cut partially, said the official.

Early monsoons during mid-June in the catchment areas of the six lakes have helped the levels rise rapidly. On June 14 this year,lakes had only a third of the water they had on the same day last year. However,following rainfall throughout June and the first week of July,the levels rose to 1,50,755 million litres on July 7 from just 70,606 million litres on June 14.

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On July 7 last year,the BMC had imposed a 30 per cent water cut and reduced it to 15 per cent on July 28.

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