The 10 per cent water cut imposed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in Mumbai might become a recurring phenomenon in the coming years. The reason is apparently the increasing water consumption by newer buildings that the civic administration has been okaying @180 per month.
In the coming years, Mumbai will face more water cuts as more and more new buildings eat up into the already thinning out water supply system.
Currently, the BMC supplies around 2,950 million litres of water every day.
Recognising that over the years this supply will prove to be inadequate, the civic body had floated the idea of having the Middle Vaitarna Project four years ago.
The project aimed at constructing a dam near Nashik to add up around 455 million litres per day to the existing water supply system. Already behind schedule, the Centre has refused permission for the project on environmental grounds.
Hydraulic department officials though, put up a brave front and claim that the refusal is a small obstacle.
Says a former water department official, The corporation should be very circumspect while giving new permissions for buildings as these are only going to add up to the existing burden. Not only water, but unplanned development also puts pressure on other resources.
Officials from the development planning department said on condition of anonymity that at present the only criterion applied by the BMC while giving permission to builders was to check if the land in question was legal or not.
Municipal Commissioner Srivastava said, You cant put a cap on development because of such a reason (water consumption).
Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Special Engineering) Ramesh Bhatia who till recently was heading the water department, said, Since October 2002, new buildings receive only 90 litres per person, per day, instead of the earlier 135 litres.
He added that even older housing societies would now be forced to enforce water conservation measures.
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