10% WATER CUT IN MUMBAI AS RAIN STAYS AWAY

DRY SPELL CONTINUES Scanty rainfall in the last 48 hours has led to a dip in levels of six lakes that supply water to the city, forcing the precautionary measure

If water reaches the required level, we will cancel the water cut.
AS TAWADIA
deputy hydraulic engineer

MUMBAI: As the dry spell continues and lake levels dip further, Mumbaiites will face a 10% water cut from today.
SANTOSH HARHARE /HT PHOTO A rainbow appeared amidst the clouds on Saturday evening. “We will keep analysing rainfall and lake levels so that we can roll back the cut as soon as possible,” said AS Tawadia, the municipal corporation’s deputy hydraulics engineer in charge of planning and control.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had earlier expressed concern at the lack of rain in the catchment areas of the six lakes that supply water to Mumbai. MUMBAI: Mumbaiites will face a 10% water cut from Sunday as the dry spell continues and the water stock in the lakes that provide water to the city continue to dip.
Officials from the water department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said the water cut would not trouble the city much.

“It is only a 10% cut. We will also keep on analysing the rainfall and water levels in the lakes at regular intervals. If it rains and water reaches a certain required level, we will cancel the applied water cut,” said AS Tawadia, deputy hydraulic engineer (planning and control).
Lack of rain in catchment areas of the six lakes has become a cause of concern for civic officials. In the last 48 hours (June 28 and 29), Modak Sagar, Tansa and Upper Vaitarna did not receive any rainfall.
The Vihar Lake received a rainfall of around 60mm and 2.60 mm respectively on the two days. While Tulsi received 71mm rainfall on June 28, no rainfall was recorded on June 29. Bhatsa received light showers of around 1.20 mm on June 29. The total rainfall received by all the lakes till now, except Tulsi, is the lowest in the last two years (see box).
On June 30, the lakes had a combined water stock of 66,354 million litres, with the level of Upper Vaitarna dropping below the minimum level required to draw water. The city presently receives 3,430 million litres of water and once the 10% water cut is applied, it will receive 3,087 million litres per day.
“We appeal to the citizens to inform us about any water leakages in pipelines in their area,” said Tawadia on behalf of the civic administration.