Mumbai : Despite water stocks in the seven lakes supplying to Mumbai reaching around 96% of their total capacity, the BMC administration on Wednesday refused to withdraw the ongoing 10% water cut, saying it would wait until the end of Sept to assess whether the reservoirs reach 100% capacity before taking a call .
On Aug 12, BMC had announced that it had decided to resume water supply to municipal swimming pool facilities for citizens from Sunday, August 16, even while the 10% water cut for other citizens stayed in place. BJP’s Pravin Darekar suggested that the 10% water cut imposed on residential areas be withdrawn while restrictions on commercial water use should continue.
Shivkumar Jha, a BJP corporator, criticised the civic administration, saying that Mumbai was facing a “water crisis” just ahead of the Ganesh festival. Standing committee chairperson and BJP corporator from Mulund Prabhakar Shinde said that with the major festivals of Ganpati and Navratri approaching, the BMC should prioritise restoring full water supply to households and other essential users rather than having first considered resumption of water supply to swimming pools. Congress corporator Ajanta Yadav suggested that wells across the city be cleaned and desilted and used for non-potable purposes.
Additional municipal commissioner Vipin Sharma said the administration would monitor water levels in the lakes through the month of Sept and review the situation at the end of the month. “As per forecasts, no significant rainfall is expected this month; hence, citizens are requested to use water judiciously,” said Sharma, adding that mapping of Mumbai’s approximately 6,500-km water pipeline network is underway. Once the exercise is completed, it will provide a clear picture of areas where pipelines need to be replaced he said.