State govt promises water from reservoirs for parched city
Mumbai: Mumbaikars may have finally got some respite from the water crisis. The state on Wednesday stepped in to bail the BMC out of the crisis, promising to release 129 million litres of water till August 15 from its two reservoirs, Bhatsa and Upper Vaitarna. This assurance prompted the BMC to announce its plans to review its decision to stop water supply one day every week.
The announcement came after a meeting between the civic hydraulic department and irrigation minister Ajit Pawar. The meeting was called after NCP’s Mumbai chief Narendra Verma and its corporators urged Pawar to intervene in the issue.
“At least now we can be sure that we won’t have to increase the water cut further. Right now, we are supplying 2,900 mld to the city. Had we not got this additional quota from the state, we would have been forced to decrease the supply
to 2,700 mld, thereby increasing the cut,’’ said additional municipal commissioner Anil Diggikar.
The state has decided to give 148 million cubic metres from the Bhatsa and 51 mcm from the Upper Vaitarna. However, both the state and the civic officials think it’s too early to be jubilant since they will be drawing water from the reserve stock. “It’s a risk we are taking by giving away water from the reserve,’’ said Pawar.
“The reserve stock is usually kept to meet water scarcity, if there is delay in monsoon in the coming year,’’ he said. “As of now, we have 6.51 million litres stock in the lakes. Last year, it was 8.63 million litres. Although this water will take care of the deficit, homes in the hilly areas will continue to face a problem,’’ Diggikar added.
Pawar has directed BMC to follow some discipline. “The BMC should have water audit for plugging the loopholes in the distribution system,’’ he said.
Sachin Tendulkar draws flak over shower remark
The announcement came after a meeting between the civic hydraulic department and irrigation minister Ajit Pawar. The meeting was called after NCP’s Mumbai chief Narendra Verma and its corporators urged Pawar to intervene in the issue.
“At least now we can be sure that we won’t have to increase the water cut further. Right now, we are supplying 2,900 mld to the city. Had we not got this additional quota from the state, we would have been forced to decrease the supply
to 2,700 mld, thereby increasing the cut,’’ said additional municipal commissioner Anil Diggikar.
The state has decided to give 148 million cubic metres from the Bhatsa and 51 mcm from the Upper Vaitarna. However, both the state and the civic officials think it’s too early to be jubilant since they will be drawing water from the reserve stock. “It’s a risk we are taking by giving away water from the reserve,’’ said Pawar.
“The reserve stock is usually kept to meet water scarcity, if there is delay in monsoon in the coming year,’’ he said. “As of now, we have 6.51 million litres stock in the lakes. Last year, it was 8.63 million litres. Although this water will take care of the deficit, homes in the hilly areas will continue to face a problem,’’ Diggikar added.
Pawar has directed BMC to follow some discipline. “The BMC should have water audit for plugging the loopholes in the distribution system,’’ he said.
Sachin Tendulkar draws flak over shower remark
Celebrities should not endorse public welfare campaigns, the city’s corporators said on Wednesday. And at the receiving end of the flak was none other than master blaster Sachin Tendulkar. Sachin has finished shooting for a promotional film where he is endorsing the need to conserve water. The standing committee rejected a proposal to cast the cricketer in another film to spread awareness on cleanliness. What drew the ire of the corporators was that the maestro, by talking of doing away with showers to conserve water, has neglected the water woes of the average Mumbaikar, many of whom live in chawls and slums. TNN