Urban News

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
Water Supply

No water cuts till next June

Friday, 08 October 2010 12:06 administrator
Print PDF

Hindustan Times  08.10.2010

No water cuts till next June

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 On Thursday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced that the 15% water cuts would be withdrawn for the entire year till the next monsoon.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 It was partially withdrawn only for the festive season in September this year.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.

Last Updated on Friday, 08 October 2010 12:08
 

Mumbai consumed more water last yr

Friday, 08 October 2010 12:01 administrator
Print PDF

The Times of India    08.10.2010

Mumbai consumed more water last yr

MUMBAI: On Thursday, the BMC announced that the city would not be subjected to any more water till July next year, signalling the end of the worst-ever water crisis faced by the city. Believe it or not, the city ended up consuming more water last year.

According to a reply furnished by the hydraulic department under the RTI Act, the water consumption shot up from 7.95 lakh ml in 2008-09 to 8.08 lakh ml in 2009-10.

A rise in consumption was recorded, even as the hydraulic department of the BMC imposed a 15% cut in overall supply from the reservoirs. With rains being deficient over the catchments last year, even bigger cuts were imposed on water supply for non-residential consumers. Water connections of bulk consumers- those who consume in excess of 2 lakh litre daily- were thwarted.

The RTI response was submitted to a query by social activist Simpreet Singh, who had sought details on the water consumption pattern in times of water cut. Hydraulic department engineers said that there could be several reasons behind the rise in consumption. One said that there has been an increase in the number of consumers who are being charged "telescopic" supply rates. In 2008, the BMC introduced a billing pattern where consumers are charged two, three, and four times the regular rate (Rs3.50 per kilo litre) for excess water consumption of up to 200, 250 and 300 lppd, respectively.

New water meters installed for the system might have revealed the actual consumption in a number of cases, which were earlier being charged on an average on account of faulty water meters. Another official said that a part of the rise could be attributed to an increase in the number of water connections. A senior department engineer reasoned that even as a considerable portion of the city suffered from acute water cuts, a section consumed water in excess of the limit (150 litre per person per day, or lppd), set as a standard norm/

The RTI further revealed that despite the water shortage, the department issued new water connections. Nearly 4889 new residential connections were issued during the period between April, 2009 and March, 2010. This would mean that on average 13 new connections were issued daily in times of the water crisis.

The number of residential water connections rose from 2.48 lakh in 2008-09 to 2.52 lakh in 2009-10, the RTI reply revealed. Interestingly, the number of non-residential water connections decreased from 44533 to 44373 during the corresponding period. Similarly, even as the BMC decreased the supply, the water bill generated for April 2009 to March 2010 was Rs 14.2 crore crore more than the year before. The number of bills generated also rose to 1.31 lakh from 1.27 lakh, a 4% jump.

Singh questioned the need to grant new connections, when the BMC was already facing trouble in distributing water equally to the existing connections.

Last Updated on Friday, 08 October 2010 12:04
 

Full water supply till next monsoon

Friday, 08 October 2010 11:15 administrator
Print PDF

Indian Express    08.10.2010

Full water supply till next monsoon

Express News Service Tags : Water supply, BMC, consumer Posted: Fri Oct 08 2010, 00:05 hrs

Mumbai:  Water supply will remain total with the BMC deciding not to re-impose the 15 per cent cut it had lifted during the festival season in September. After a number of meetings and constant pressure from corporators, municipal commissioner Swadheen Kshatriya announced on Thursday that the lakes the city depends on have filled up after a good monsoon and the city will get its full quota of 3350 million litres per day. The 30 per cent water cut imposed on bulk consumers, too, has been lifted.

“After thoroughly studying the current availability of water in the lakes along with officials from the water department, we have come to the conclusion that there is no need for re-imposing the water cut, at least before next year’s monsoon. However, we will keep reviewing every three months if the cut needs to be re-imposed,” said Kshatriya.

Yet problems remain, corporators complain and Kshatriya himself admits. Corporators said distribution has been unequal and pressure low in areas at the ends of the supply pipelines. “Does the BMC have any vision about how it will solve problems such as supply at the fag ends and the hillocks, water loss due to thefts and leakages? Do officials feel they can now sit back and relax just because the lakes have filled up?” said Sunil Prabhu of the Shiv Sena.

After complaints from members of the standing committee, Kshatriya admitted the situation is far from satisfactory. “It is ironic that despite availability, we have not been able to supply adequate water in some areas. Officials of the water department who have knowledge and experience have informed me that due to technical reasons, the master balance reservoir on the Bhandup complex is not getting the adequate level, which is affecting supply at Worli and Malabar Hill reservoirs and indirectly affecting supply in the island city,” he said. 

He added a similar problem is being experienced to an extent at the Pise-Panjrapur pumping station; the Rawli Camp reservoir is not getting enough water, affecting supply in parts of eastern suburbs.

Upcoming establishments including residential complexes whose daily need is more than two lakh litres will not get new connections till the completion of the Middle Vaitarna dam. However, all new SRA and rehabilitation buildings, under all schemes, will be supplied water so project-affected persons can be rehabilitated and the projects can progress. Desalination and grey water recycling plants will be set up on a public-private partnership if the Centre does not fund them, Kshatriya said.

Last Updated on Friday, 08 October 2010 11:17
 
More Articles...


Page 240 of 414