The Times of India 28.07.2012
Mumbai will get 455 mld more water by September
MUMBAI: If all goes well, come September
Mumbaikars will get an additional 455 million ltires per day (mld)
water. A day after TOI reported that the gates of Middle Vaitarna have
been closed, hydraulic engineering officials admitted the wate r from the Middle Vaitarna dam is likely to be released by September or latest by the beginning of October.
"If the rain gods side with us, we could expect to draw water from
Middle Vaitarna around mid-September. This is subject to the monsoon.
Once Upper Vaitarna overflows the new dam will rapidly fill up," said
Ramesh Bamble, chief hydraulic engineer. Once the water level
crosses over the full capacity level (603 meters) in Upper Vaitarna, the
excess water will flow into Middle Vaitarna's catchment area. On Friday
the Upper Vaitarna level was 597 meters, just six meters below the full
capacity level. Mumbaikars currently face a water shortage of about
1,100 million litres per day (mld). The BMC has announced that the Middle Vaitarna dam project will supply an additional 455 mld water to the city.
