Mumbai won't be short of water even if it rains less, assures BMC

Allaying fears of a water shortage in the face of an expected deficit in rainfall this year, civic body says even 80% of average rainfall is enough to fill up lakes

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has laid to rest speculation that the city will face a shortfall in water supply after the monsoon owing to below-average rainfall.

The levels of the Modak Sagar and Tansa are 11 and 4 metres higher than their lowest drawable levels respectively. File pics

Dismissing recent reports that the city would get 4-5% less rainfall than usual and that this would lead to a water shortage this year, the BMC clarified that even if there is a 20% deficit in rainfall, Mumbai would still have enough water.

When Corporators raised the issue in Wednesday’s Standing Committee meeting, Additional Municipal Commissioner Mohan Adtani replied, “Even 80% of normal average rainfall would be enough for the city for the next ten months (October to July).”

Adtani added that the lakes which are the source of the city’s water supply have 40% more water than last year. “We have 3.65 lakh million litres of water stock compared to 2.69 lakh million litres in 2013,” he said.

Water, water everywhere
Officials say most of the lakes Modak Sagar, Tansa, Vihar, Tulsi, Upper Vaitarna and Bhatsa had healthy water levels. Bhatsa and Modak Sagar are 12 and 11 metres above their lowest drawable level respectively. This will suffice for the next 90 days. Upper Vaitarna is 3 metres, and Tansa and Tulsi are 4 metres above their lowest drawable levels.

Corporators also pointed out that there is a shortage in water supply in certain areas. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s Dilip Lande said Kurla has been receiving water once every two days. Leader of the house Trushna Vishwasrao, Sena corporator Ramakant Rahate, and education committee chairman Vinod Shelar also raised the issue from their respective wards.

Adtani assured them the administration would look into the matter. The civic body supplies 3,700-million litres of water every day, against a requirement of 4,400 million litres. BMC’s Hydraulic department will review water stock at the end of May.

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