10 January,2011 06:15 AM IST | | Rinkita Gurav
Will be banking on overhead storage tanks and municipal tankers to tide them through the crisis
ORDINARY residents will not be the only ones affected by the BMC water cut, which will begin in most parts of the city from today.
Government offices including Mantralaya and hospitals in the city have taken measures to ensure they do not run out of the essential commodity.
Authorities have requested employees tou00a0 useu00a0water judiciously during the crisis period
While some are banking on overhead water tanks to see them through the cut, others have asked the BMC to supply water tankers to them in case they fall short.
Staffers have, across the spectrum, been asked to cut down on their water usage during the crisis.
u00a0"In big offices, water has already been stocked in overhead water tanks and, if there is an emergency, they can call for municipal tankers from the emergency repair cell in Worli," said a BMC assistant engineer from A ward.
Dr Chandrakant Gaikwad, superintendent, St George Hospital said they have a bore well as well as a tank for storing water, "We have, however, already asked the BMC to send in water tankers in case we face a shortage.
We need to have a back up as the water stored in our tank will last for a maximum of a day and a half."
A nurse from Cama Hospital said the staff has already been informed to consume less water. "Water is required constantly in hospitals.
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We will do whatever we can to ensure we decrease our consumption so that the patients don't face a problem."
Staff at the BMC office in CST and at Mantralaya said they, too, have been instructed to consume less water. "I always wash my tiffin box after lunch but I will avoid it for the next three days.
Also, we have drinking water stored in bottles for us, but I will carry water from home," said a BMC accounts department staffer.
BMC officials, however, said the chances of the civic body's office and Mantralaya facing a water shortage are limited as both offices have good storage capacities.
Additional Municipal Commissioner (city) Mohan Adtani said, "There will not be a water crisis at government offices and institutions as they will store water as per requirement.
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Our water tankers will also provide water to these places in case of an emergency."
An official from the BMC's public relation office, however, said, "The tankers may take time to reach the office or the hospital. What will they do till then? And, will every staffer adhere to the low water consumption diktat?"
Price hike
With private water suppliers all set to hike prices, the maximum brunt of the cut will be borne by residential and commercial complexes as well as hotels needing water tankers. The current rate ranges from Rs 500 to Rs 700 per tanker but the price can go as high as Rs 1,000 per tanker during the cut, said a supplier. Manoj Malpani of Malpani Water Supply said, "We have been getting eight to 10 calls daily from the Cuffe Parade area asking if we would be able to supply water during the cut. Even we are, however, falling short as our regular clients have demanded double the number of tankers they order now."
100% cut
The following areas will see a 100 per cent water cut today: Kalbadevi, CP Tank, Girgaum, Thakurdwar, Mumbai Central, Versova, Yari Road, Andheri (W), Vile Parle (W), Santacruz (E), Bandra (E) and MIDC in Andheri (E)
