03 July,2011 06:37 AM IST | | Urvashi Seth
While the city is staring at an impending water crisis, with possible water cuts if the rains do not comply, according to the Indian Metrological Department (IMD), there is no need to panic, since enough rainfall is expected through July to meet the city's water requirements.
In June, Mumbai received 460mm of rainfall against the month's normal average rainfall of 500mm. This, when during the same month, the country received 173mm rainfall against the national normal average of 156mm.
This situation has raised the spectre of 2009 when the BMC was forced to order a 30 per cent cut in water supplies across the city.
According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday, if the city does not get enough rainfall, the city's water stock will last for just 50 days, after which water cuts will become necessary.
However, according to the IMD, the BMC will not have to resort to water cuts, as July will see enough rainfall. "Looking at the weather conditions, we are expecting good rainfall by the second week of July.
Usually, July brings in enough rainfall," said VK Rajeev, the Director of IMD. He added that the monsoon had already covered most parts of the country and rain is expected in all areas.
A look at the city's water supply does not raise much hope, though. Upper Vaitarna Lake has a capacity of 603.51 metres, but only 596.09 metres of the lake is currently full. Modak Sagar Lake is filled to 149.27 metres of water when its capacity is 163.15 metres.
