Corporators demand rollback of 15% water cut

The total water available in the six lakes presently is 7,06,305 million litres as compared to 5,59,022 million litres on the same day last year.

“Modak Sagar,one out of the six lakes supplying water to the city,has started overflowing and others are nearing the mark. Why do the Mumbaikars still have to suffer from the water cut,if we have enough water,” asked Niyaz Wanu,NCP corporator.

“The rainfall has been low in the catchment areas for the past few days. It has been worse in Vihar and Tulsi. So we can’t withdraw the cut as of now,” said Deputy Municipal Commissioner (water supply projects) Pramod Charankar.

Rainfall in the catchment areas — Modak Sagar,Tansa,Upper Vaitarna and Bhatsa lakes— located in Thane and Shahapur district has once again reduced. Nowadays,these areas are getting rainfall ranging from 10 mm to 15 mm.

Officials said that during the month of Shravan irregular rainfall pattern was regular and therefore the risk of doing away with the cut could not be taken. Currently 60 per cent of lakes are full.

The proposed cloud seeding project to induce artificial rain also cannot be carried out now as the weather situation in the catchment is unfavourable. “There is no cloud forecast in the catchment areas for the next four days. Once there is a favourable situation,including the required wind velocity,we will carry the experiment,” a senior official said. Expert Shantilal Meckoni has been appointed to carry out 20 such experiments at a cost of Rs 16 lakh.

Star hotels get unequal share
Corporators slammed the civic administration for disparity in water cut imposed on star hotels in the city. While Hyatt Regency at Vile Parle received 55% less water,only 10% water cut was imposed on Taj Wellington Mews in Colaba. Wanu said,“Why such discrimination against business establishements? There should be a uniform cut.” However,BMC officials maintained,“The water cut varies according to the the pressure with which the water flows in the pipeline in a particular area. We are trying to rationalise the water cut so that every hotel receives same amount of water.”