The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on Friday decalred a 10% water cut acorss Mumbai due to a drastic stock shortage in the seven lakes that supply water to different parts of the city. Starting June 27, Mumbai along with regions like Thane, Bhiwandi and nearby villages that share BMC water stocks will suffer these water cuts.
Notably, the severe shortage has been caused by the late arrival of the monsoon and unsatisfactory rains this year. The ramifications of the same are being felt across the region. Purpotedy, a 25% water cut has been announced in Navi Mumbai too in wake of 70% less rainfall in June.
Less rainfall caused a shortage of drinking water storage
The seven lakes that supply water to Mumbai and Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) are Modak Sagar, Tansa, Upper Vaitarna, Middle Vaitarna, Bhatsa, Tulsi, and Vehar. As per BMC reports, the current water stock in these lakes is 80,648 ML (million liters) less than what it was in June 2021.
To put things into perspective, it may be noted that the BMC supplies 3850 ML per day to Mumbai. For the whole year, lakes need a cumulative stock of 14,47,363 ML. The city currently has only 9.76% of useful water storage left out of 1,41,242 ML,, sufficient only to source the entire city 40 days.
According to a MeT forecast in May, Mumbai was looking at an early arrival the monsoons, with 99% of yearly rains in the following four months. However, that has not been the case. If the rains continue to shy from Mumbai and satellite areas for the next 15-20 days, the water shortage is sure to create immense problems for the city dwellers, officials stated.
The BMC has urged the people of Mumbai and MMR to use water with extra care, as any carelessness may lead to a massive crisis in the near future.
