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Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has tried several methods to stop water wastage through leakages in pipelines, but have failed to solve the problem. About 22% of water supplied to the city is lost due to leakages and pilferage. However, soon the civic body may stop the waste as the BMC has turned to a new-age technology to audit and arrest the water loss. The corporation plans to measure the flow of water at various points along the pipeline network. Ultrasonic flow meters will be installed at a distance of every 1km along the water distribution mains. “The water flow will help us identify patches where the water is lost to leakages and pilferage. This will help us identify leakages faster and arrest them in time,” an official said. Vinay Deshpande, a hydrualic engineer with the civic body confirmed that a decision to purchase and install flow meters had already been made. While installing the meters, the BMC will simultaneously also secure water pipelines to cut leakages. An action plan for a demolition drive to evict encroachments along the water mains has already been drawn up. Officials said that the drive was likely to commence next week. To ensure that the encroachers do not resurface, the BMC plans to barricade the land immediately after it is vacated, a senior official said. Also, to secure water mains Meanwhile the civic body has decided to make public toilets in the city pay a price for misusing water. Drinking water supply to the public toilets will be discontinued as they have been found misusing water, additional municipal commissioner Anil Diggikar said. Groups running the toilets have been already told to make alternative arrangements. Also, with the city’s water crisis deepening by the day, the BMC has taken note of the water wasted by motor garages in the city. Water supply to 154 garages, which are tapping water illegally, has been discontinued, Diggikar said. To supplement the fresh water supply, the corporation has undertaken repair works of 1,383 wells, including private wells. Work at 361 wells has been completed and work is in progress at 236 others, Diggikar said. The BMC is spending Rs42 crore towards repairing and cleaning the wells. These wells are expected to collectively supply 8.25 million litre of water. The civic body has also announced that 10 new rain water harvesting units will be set up in every ward, which will be supplement the already existing 900 such units. Source : http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_now-bmc-to-take-a-measured-step_1341007 |