Water cuts in Mumbai is unnecessary, say activists

Come summer the BMC always reminds us of the looming water crisis in Mumbai This is followed by phased water cuts ranging from 10 to 15 per cent Its a pattern that has now become routine to how the city functions The argument is that Mumbai doesnt have enough water and most likely never will unless we have good rainfall But is the city staring at a drought If urban planners and activists are to be believed not yetAs SUNDAY midday kickstarts its Bucket Sundays campaign we spell out issues concerning water in the city and why aqua warriors who are fighting the big fight to save every drop feel we need to push the envelope when tackling the problemThe truth is that we are not facing a water crisis in Mumbai says Sitaram Shelar convenor of Pani Haq Samiti a nineyearold collective that is working towards equitable access to water Currently 3800 million litres per day MLD of purified water is being distributed to the citys 15 crore population If you distribute it well everyone will get 280 litres per capita per day LPCD which is almost double the national or international indicator he addsPankaj Joshi UDRIShelar says that if we had a water problem new housing projects wouldnt be receiving water connections and unlimited supply for their swimming pools There is ample water but we are using it in an inhuman manner he says People living in buildings are receiving 150 LPCD while those living in small settlements recognised by the government barely get 45 LPCD they comprise 60 per cent of the population he says Poor distribution is observed in areas like Colaba Reay Road Byculla as well as peripheries of Mankhurd Govandi Dahisar and Malad There is a new caste system based on water that is emerging in urban areas says Shelar whose collective in 2011 had filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court challenging the states Urban Development Departments decision of preventing unauthorised slums from accessing municipal water supply They won the case in 2014Pankaj Joshi executive director of the Urban Design Research Institute agrees with Shelar We actually have an adequate supply of water in the city The fundamental problem is the inequitable distribution of water Joshi believes that this abundance has made the city function arrogantly We are consuming more and wasting a lot moreAlso readWater crisis Mumbais stock lowest in three yearsAnd we dont even recycle 10 per cent of the water that we receive There shouldnt be a situation where our urban poor which is already starved of the resource doesnt get water at allShelar feels that the need of the hour is to create awareness among this 40 per cent of the citys population which receives continuous supply Octogenarian Aabid Surti who runs the NGO Drop Dead Foundation says that the municipalitys decision of announcing 10 per cent water cut recently is not a practical solution to the citys water problem Most homes waste 30 per cent water in leakages If you correct the leakages you do not have to cut water In fact you will get 30 per cent additional water Reducing supply is just a short cut he says adding that households with nonstop supply should use the flush in their lavatories and shower sprinklers cautiously as hundreds of litres of water are wasted daily in the processWe need to be austere in the way we use water says Joshi adding For starters we shouldnt use drinking water for flushing or cleaning purposes This can be resolved by dualplumbing a system of plumbing installations used to supply both potable and recycled or tube well water and of course being more careful about our consumptionAlso readElections 2019 No focus on water issues in poll manifestos says activist Rajendra SinghCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates