Hindustan Times 18.12.2009
Island city spared 100 pc water cutThe island city may be spared of the 100 per cent water cuts the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to impose once a week to ration water supply.
The island city gets its supply directly from the main pipeline or the ‘trunk’. Rationing here could create a vacuum in the supply line and may lead to pipe bursts.
Faced with water shortage, the BMC is exploring ways to ensure that the entire city gets drinking water equitably until the next monsoon. One of the options is a one-day break from water supply in different zones across the city at different times so that water pressure is good.
“It is technically impossible to stop supply in the island city. A 100 per cent cut through zoning can be imposed only in those areas in the city which get supply from reservoirs,” said Additional Municipal Commissioner, Anil Diggikar.
The saffron alliance ruling the municipal corporation is not keen on zoning.
The civic administration is yet to finalise this system. “There will be no additional cut and our aim is to manage in the limited water until July 15 without even going for zoning,” said Municipal Commissioner Swadheen Kshatriya.
As an immediate measure, Kshatriya on Thursday asked the railways to look for alternate sources of water for non- potable
uses. “The railways will have to look for other sources like borewells and recycling water for non- potable use,” said Kshatriya.
The civic body has imposed a 30 per cent cut on all bulk, commercial users like five star hotels and factories.
The rain the city is facing a 15 per cent water cut and users at the fag end of the supply line are deprived of water due to low pressure. Civic officials are now working on the technical feasibility of zoning by dividing the city into seven zones and cutting off the supply in one zone for 24 hours every week or fortnight so that there is enough pressure to supply water to the rest of the zones.
Kshatriya told the media that cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has agreed to be the BMC’s mascot for the Save Water campaign. HT had reported this on Wednesday.
