The Times of India 31.12.2009
Civic body seeks state help to end water woes
MUMBAI: The BMC will soon ask the state government for additional water from the state irrigation department, which owns the Upper Vaitarna dam in Igatpuri and Bhatsa in Shahapur. Irrigation department officials said they can spare up to an additional 175 million litres a day (mld) from Upper Vaitarna and some quantity from the Bhatsa.
Civic commissioner Swadheen Kshatriya said he will soon approach the state for more water from Upper Vaitarna and Bhatsa dams.
The city gets water from BMC-owned Tulsi, Vehar, Modaksagar and Tansa lakes and the state-owned Upper Vaitarna and Bhatsa.
Soon after the rains played truant, the BMC announced a 15 per cent water cut with 30 per cent reduction in supply timings. But the cut is not equitable and the civic body is facing large scale criticism.
Balasaheb Patil, chief engineer (Konkan) of the irrigation department said, "We can give an additional 175 mld of water from Upper Vaitarna lake. At present, the state government-owned Upper Vaitarna gives 610 mld to Mumbai. The BMC had sent an officer to our department to assess how much additional water can be drawn from Upper Vaitarna, but did not come for a follow-up.''
Bhatsa, which is the largest supplier of water to Mumbai, gives around 2020 mld to Mumbai and 200 mld to Thane. Another 200 mld is reserved for irrigating farmlands. Patil said the entire quota of water for farming is never used as canals are yet to be completed. "Besides, our priority is to give water for drinking purposes. If the BMC makes a demand for additional stock, the committee of ministers for water distribution can take a decision. But the exact quantity of additional water from Bhatsa can be decided only after computation.''
According to sources in the BMC's water works department, the supply of water is inequitable. "At present, only 25% of Mumbaikars are suffering, while the rest do not face much trouble in water supply,'' an official said.
A resident of Pantnagar in Ghatkopar said, "The supply to Mhada buildings has been hit badly while localities like Garodia Nagar, `60-Feet' and `90-Feet' roads are better off. Apart from getting more water for Mumbai, the civic body's water works department must provide equitable supply of water.''
Civic commissioner Swadheen Kshatriya said he will soon approach the state for more water from Upper Vaitarna and Bhatsa dams.
The city gets water from BMC-owned Tulsi, Vehar, Modaksagar and Tansa lakes and the state-owned Upper Vaitarna and Bhatsa.
Soon after the rains played truant, the BMC announced a 15 per cent water cut with 30 per cent reduction in supply timings. But the cut is not equitable and the civic body is facing large scale criticism.
Balasaheb Patil, chief engineer (Konkan) of the irrigation department said, "We can give an additional 175 mld of water from Upper Vaitarna lake. At present, the state government-owned Upper Vaitarna gives 610 mld to Mumbai. The BMC had sent an officer to our department to assess how much additional water can be drawn from Upper Vaitarna, but did not come for a follow-up.''
Bhatsa, which is the largest supplier of water to Mumbai, gives around 2020 mld to Mumbai and 200 mld to Thane. Another 200 mld is reserved for irrigating farmlands. Patil said the entire quota of water for farming is never used as canals are yet to be completed. "Besides, our priority is to give water for drinking purposes. If the BMC makes a demand for additional stock, the committee of ministers for water distribution can take a decision. But the exact quantity of additional water from Bhatsa can be decided only after computation.''
According to sources in the BMC's water works department, the supply of water is inequitable. "At present, only 25% of Mumbaikars are suffering, while the rest do not face much trouble in water supply,'' an official said.
A resident of Pantnagar in Ghatkopar said, "The supply to Mhada buildings has been hit badly while localities like Garodia Nagar, `60-Feet' and `90-Feet' roads are better off. Apart from getting more water for Mumbai, the civic body's water works department must provide equitable supply of water.''
