The draft proposal stipulates the provision of 40 litre per capita per
day (LPCD) water for people living in these areas. The civic body claims
the policy will help it manage water resources better. The 23 fringe
villages, which fall in a 5-km radius, were earlier getting about 80
LPCD. This will be reduced to 40 LPCD.

The water supply
department supplies a total of 16.18 MLD (million liters per day) water
to these villages. In city areas, the civic body provides almost 200
LPCD.

The rationing will continue till more water sources are
developed. The new sources include tapping water from Bhama Askhed dam
and capacity enhancement of Cantonment and Parvati water works, sources
said.

Meanwhile, due to the absence of infrastructure, parts of
some areas will not get water at all. The civic body gives building
permissions on the condition that the developer will make provisions for
water supply once the project is complete. This way, the civic body
ensures that minimum drinking water needs are met with water provided by
the civic body.

Civic officials said the PMC’s draft proposal
is inspired by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) policy
that was implemented some time ago which helped check water usage.

The proposal stated that there should be a policy for better
utilisation of water for the city. The policy aims at providing adequate
water to residents in city areas and other places where the civic body
has developed a water supply network. It will help save water and manage
the existing stock judiciously.

The city draws over 16 TMC
water from the reservoirs of Panshet, Khadakwasla, Temghar and Varasgaon
dams. The city has been facing water cuts since March 2012. The
two-time water supply was reduced to once a day. The city first had a
20% water cut, which was reduced to 10% in August 2012 after the monsoon
progressed.