07 May,2024 03:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), on Tuesday, said the city will be getting additional water supply from the Bhatsa and Upper Vaitarna dams. The civic body said that the state government had sanctioned the same although the reservoirs supplying to the metropolis have less water than last year. The municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, who held a review meeting, stated that the available water storage is being closely monitored and urged the citizens to use water judiciously.
"Although the reservoirs that supply water to the Mumbai metropolis have less water storage than in previous years, the state government has already approved additional water storage for Mumbai from Bhatsa and Upper Vaitrana reservoirs. The administration is keeping a close eye on the available water resources and the available water resources have been planned in such a way that it will be sufficient till 31st July 2024 as every year. So Mumbaikars should not worry. However, everyone needs to use water sparingly," said Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani in a statement.
In a recent review meeting, it was revealed that Mumbai's seven reservoirs currently hold 16.48 per cent of the annual requirement. To bolster supply, additional water allocations have been sanctioned from the Bhatsa and Upper Vaitarna dams, with plans to fill all reservoirs by July 31.
"Currently, there are 238,552 million litres of water available across the seven reservoirs that serve Mumbai, accounting for 16.48 per cent of the annual requirement of 1,447,363 million litres." Mumbai would also receive an additional 137,000 million litres from the Bhatsa Dam and 91,130 million litres from the Upper Vaitrana Dam. The administration has planned to use these reserves until July 31st each year. The municipal administration is closely monitoring the water storage situation to assure a constant supply," the statement read.
While there is currently no water shortage, the administration is urging residents to use water judiciously. BMC suggested that Mumbaikars use measures such as bathing in a bucket, avoiding wasteful practices like leaving taps running and urged fixing leaks promptly. Additionally, commercial establishments are advised to adopt water-saving techniques, such as using nozzles to limit faucet flow and serving water only upon request in restaurants.
Individuals are encouraged to contribute to conservation efforts by adopting simple practices like washing vehicles with a wet cloth instead of a hose and minimizing water use during laundry. The administration emphasises the need for collective engagement in water conservation and encourages all Mumbai residents to join these efforts.
By implementing these measures, the administration hopes to secure Mumbai's adequate water supply while also encouraging sustainability and responsible water usage throughout the city.
