Rs 388 crore lost in water leakage in Mumbai
A report tabled in the BMC says 600 million litres of water is wasted each
day due to leakages, which results in loses of Rs 388 crore each day
Rs 388 crore — that is how much the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)
loses each year due to leaking pipelines.
According to a report tabled in the BMC standing committee meeting last
week, as much as 600 million litres per day (MLD) is lost due to leakages
and theft.
The BMC supplies about 3,100 MLD of the city’s requirement of 3,800 MLD
of water. Of this, 20 per cent, that is, 600 MLD, is wasted due to leakage
and water theft. The BMC spends Rs 18 on every 1,000 litres of water. This
amount includes transportation, processing and related administrative tasks.
So, if 600 MLD is wasted, the resulting loses work out to Rs 388 crore per
year.
According to BMC’s hydraulic department, 2,713 leakages were detected
along the city’s pipelines last month.
“At present, the BMC loses Rs 388 crore per year. We have to stop this
leakage and the theft of potable water,” said a senior BMC official.
The BMC has adopted preventive measures to try and reduce the amount of
water wasted due to leakages. However, most of the pipelines supplying water
to the city are old; some of the city’s main lines were set up during the
British colonial rule. These have not been upgraded.
Experts have suggested time and again the need for a new pipeline
network in the city. In fact, each year the BMC allocates money for the
repair of pipelines that are falling to pieces. Last year, the BMC
reportedly spent Rs 68 crore to improve 55 km of water pipelines. This year,
the BMC has planned to improve 80 km of pipelines, for which a sum of Rs 114
crore has been set aside. Another Rs 356 crore has been allocated for an
ambitious project involving the changing of 215 km of old pipelines; this
will take place in stages, according to an officer of the hydraulic
department.
IN NUMBERS
Mumbai’s water requirement: 3,800 MLD BMC’s daily supply: 3,100 MLD
Leakage of water:About 20 per cent, that is, 600 MLD Actual quantity of
water supplied to Mumbai: 2,500 MLD
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