Mumbai water cut: BMC turns up heat, warns of criminal action against electric pump users

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC has warned residents against illegally drawing water using electric pumps as the city begins facing a precautionary 10 per cent water cut due to declining reservoir levelsThe civic body said strict action including criminal cases penalties and even disconnection of water supply connections will be taken against those found illegally extracting water directly from pipelines or tap connectionsMumbairsquos 10 per cent water cut came into effect on Friday as reservoir levels supplying the city continued to decline ahead of the monsoon seasonReservoir Levels Fall Amid Concerns Over Weak MonsoonAccording to the BMC the decision to impose water rationing was taken as a precautionary measure amid falling water stock in lakes supplying Mumbai and forecasts of belownormal rainfall linked to El Nino and Indian Ocean Dipole IOD conditionsOfficials said the total usable water stock available in the seven reservoirs supplying Mumbai stood at 340399 million litres on May 11This amounts to only 2352 per cent of the total annual required stock of 1447363 million litres needed to meet the cityrsquos water demandMumbai depends on water supplied from Tulsi Vihar Bhatsa Modak Sagar Tansa Upper Vaitarna and Middle Vaitarna lakes located in Mumbai Thane and Nashik districtsBMC Orders Strict Crackdown On Illegal Water ExtractionAdditional Municipal Commissioner Projects Abhijit Bangar on Friday directed civic officials to intensify action against illegal water extraction practices across the cityAccording to the BMC inspections carried out in several areas have revealed that some residents have installed electric pumps directly on pipelines and tap connections to draw excess waterOfficials said such practices reduce water pressure in neighbouring localities and disrupt equitable distribution during the ongoing water cutsBangar said the unauthorised use of electric pumps also increases stress on the water distribution network and raises the possibility of contamination entering pipelinesThe civic administration has instructed officials to seize illegal pumps impose penalties and register criminal cases against violatorsRepeat Offenders May Face Water Supply DisconnectionThe BMC has also warned that repeat offenders could face disconnection of their water supply connectionsOfficials said strict monitoring will continue during the rationing period to ensure fair distribution of water across MumbaiThe administration has appealed to residents to avoid illegal practices and cooperate with authorities during the ongoing supply reductionEngineers Asked To Prepare WardWise Action PlansAlongside the crackdown Bangar instructed engineers and fieldlevel officials to prepare wardwise microplanning strategies to minimise inconvenience to citizensOfficials have been asked to identify localities likely to face lowpressure supply or disruptions especially elevated areas and tailend regions that are more vulnerable during water rationingThe BMC said field engineers have also been directed to remain present at worksites maintain communication with residents and public representatives and ensure complaints related to water supply are resolved quicklyThe civic body said regular monitoring of the distribution system will continue throughout the rationing period to maintain stable water supply across the city as reservoir levels remain under pressure ahead of the monsoon