Mumbai: Water levels drop to 12%, BMC gets nod to dip into its reserves

MUMBAI: The state government has allowed the BMC to draw an additional 75 million litres daily (mld) from Upper Vaitarna and Bhatsa lakes, respectively, said commissioner Iqbal Chahal.
Last month, the BMC wrote to the state seeking permission to draw water from its reserves. BJP's Ashish Shelar was quick to thank the government for the additional water given the fact that the lake levels are now down to 12%. With BMC elections slated post-monsoon or with the Lok Sabha polls next year, the government and the BJP do not want to take any chances.
Former hydraulic engineer T V Shah, however, said there is no panic situation as BMC's water supply to the city has been designed in a way that water levels reach the lowest drawable level in reservoirs on June 30.
"BMC plans water supply from its reservoirs from October 1 to June 30, which is around 273 dry days. It is being reported that the lake levels are 12%, which means we are right on target. We have sufficient water till the month-end and monsoon is just round the corner..." According to the Indian Meteorological Department, monsoon is expected to touch Mumbai by June 11.
Shah said the reservoirs hold 40% water beyond the lowest drawable level, and over the years, the BMC has dipped into its reserves several times. "Every year, the lakes begin to receive fresh water from monsoon in the last week of June. Our reservoirs are 95% reliable, which means they may fail to fill up once in 20 years," he said.
Mumbai draws its daily water supply from seven different lakes - Tansa, Bhatsa, Modak Sagar, Tulsi, Vehar, Upper Vaitarna, and Middle Vaitarna. Most of these lakes are located on the outskirts of Mumbai and in neighbouring Thane and Nashik districts. Water in Upper Vaitarna and Bhatsa belongs exclusively to the BMC. "From Bhatsa, BMC has given 100mld to Thane, and the state draws hydro-electricity from the Upper Vaitarna and Bhatsa. If the government does not give permission to use the water, then it will only be wasted as there is no infrastructure to supply water to anybody else," said Shah.