File pic for representation
Under the govt’s 10% water-cut directive, Thane is expected to lose around 37 MLD from its total supply of 365 MLD from STEM and TMC. Instead of daily reductions, the two agencies are opting for a 24-hour shutdown once a week, a civic official said. MIDC has adopted a similar weekly schedule, with a 36-hour shutdown, while BMC imposes daily 10% cuts. Meanwhile, TMC is preparing to expand tanker-filling capacity as demand rises at its lone filling centre at Saket, where around 70 tankers scoop out 10,000 litres and supply to various parched corners of the city.
“Residents are already discussing to start stocking bottled water and jars in our area, anticipating an acute shortage in the coming days,” said Anubha Sahai, a Hiranandani Estate resident. A new filling centre at Manpada is being operationalised to serve the increasingly water-stressed Ghodbunder belt, officials said. The mounting squeeze is already triggering panic buying of packaged water, with stocks dwindling and online delivery waiting periods increasing.