MUMBAI: The BMC on Friday withdrew the 10% water cut imposed in the city two weeks ago as the catchment area lakes have received significant rainfall in the past few days leading to a rise in water stocks. On June 27, the BMC had imposed the water cut as the total stocks in the seven lakes had dipped below 10% of the total required quantum.
In the 24 hours ending 6am on Friday, there was a 7% jump in the total water stocks - from 19% to 26% - as almost all the big lakes witnessed over 100mm of rainfall. Bhatsa received 155mm of rainfall, Middle Vaitarna 107mm and Tansa 155mm. As of Friday, the usable stocks in the seven lakes- Bhatsa, Upper Vaitarna, Middle Vaitarna, Modak Sagar, Tansa, Tulsi and Vihar - that cater to Mumbai's drinking water needs stood at 3.75 lakh million litres compared 2.63 lakh million litres on July 8, 2021.
On July 5, Powai lake, located in Mumbai's eastern suburbs, overflowed. This lake's water is supplied only to industries as it is non-potable.
Though the BMC has rolled back the cut, it has requested citizens to use water judiciously till the lakes are sufficiently full. The total required water stocks is 14.47 lakh million litres by October 1 for Mumbai to go without a water cut for the rest of the year. The BMC supplies 3,750 million litres of water daily to Mumbaikars.
Of the seven lakes, the maximum percentage of water is supplied by Bhatsa (48%). Tulsi and Vihar provide for around 2% of the city's drinking water needs, Upper Vaitarna 16%, Middle Vaitarna 12%, Modak Sagar 11%, and Tansa 10%.
After BMC had imposed the water cut last month, a delegation of BJP workers met BMC chief I S Chahal and complained that it seemed more than 10% as the hilly areas in the city were getting little or no supply.
Last year, in August, the BMC had imposed a 20% water cut as the levels in the catchment area lakes were low.
