Written by: Express News Service
2 min readMumbaiJul 16, 2010 11:55 PM IST
First published on: Jul 16, 2010 at 11:55 PM IST
The 15 per cent water supply cut will remain at least a month longer,the BMC decided today after a review that found the situation “still not satisfactory”.
The next review on continuing or stopping the cut will be on August 16.
The lakes supplying water to the city have 242,930 million litres between them. On the same date in 2005,2006,2007 and 2008,the average total was 670,859 million litres. When all six lakes are full,they add up to over 130 billion litres.
“Though the water available is more than that last year,it will not be ideal to compare the situation with last year’s since the rainfall then was very poor. Compared to years when it rained well,we still have 64 per cent less water this year. The water cut will have to be extended to August 15. Depending on the quantum and consistency of rainfall over the catchment areas in the next one month,we will take a decision on lifting or continuing the cut,” said municipal commissioner Swadhin Kshatriya.
In terms of rainfall,the catchment areas have had a good start but it has not sustained; intermittent dry spells have slowed down the rise in levels.
Due to poor rainfall last year,the BMC imposed a 10 per cent cut in June,increased it to 30 per cent in July and brought it down to 15 per cent in August.
Kshatriya said the BMC is in constant touch with the IMD. “We are monitoring the weather and are confident that heavy rains over the next one month will add considerable water to the existing stock,” he said.
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