Urban News

Hindustan Times  08.10.2010

It’s official. On Thursday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced that the 15% water cuts would be withdrawn for the entire year till the next monsoon. The BMC also announced that since the water situation had improved considerably, housing schemes for rehabilitation of project-affected people (PAP), and slum improvement projects would be given water supply.

The city was reeling under a 15% water cut for most of last year. It was partially withdrawn only for the festive season in September this year.

Civic chief Swadheen Kshatriya made the formal announcement at the standing committee meeting that the 15%  and 30% water cuts, for residential and bulk consumers respectively, had been completely lifted.

He said the lakes supplying water to Mumbai had sufficient stocks to suffice till next monsoon.

“We had lifted the 15% water cut in September for the festive season but after reviewing the current water stock there is no need to re-introduce the water cut,” Kshatriya said.

He added, however, that the administration would be reviewing water stocks every three months and appropriate decisions taken if needed.

Kshatriya announced that 6,000 PAPs in Mahul would start getting water supply.

“If new buildings coming up in the city have a demand of more than two lakh litres per day, they will be given a water connection only after the Middle Vaitarna dam is ready, in 2012,” Kshatriya said.

He said the BMC had, in the Commencement Certificate and the Intention of Disapproval given to major projects, mentioned that water connections would be given only after 2012.

Kshatriya said the water department draws 4,000 million litres of water every day (MLD), of which only 3,350 MLD is supplied to the city, while some amount is lost in transit.  A small amount of water is also supplied to villages in Shahpur district and about 165 MLD is supplied to Thane district. Kshatriya said that the water that overflows from Vihar, Tulsi and Powai, which is discharged into the sea, should be tapped instead of the water being wasted.

Meanwhile, corporators were demanding that the civic body look into the water losses caused by leakages and thefts.

“Even with the water cuts being lifted, there are several areas in the city where water supply is a problem,” Shiv Sena leader Sunil Prabhu said.

To this Kshatriya said the reservoirs in the city like Worli, Malabar Hill and Raoli Camp in Antop Hill have not been getting the right levels and civic officials were trying to solve the problem on priority.