Civic body supplying 3.8K ml water daily, claims Singhal

Mumbai: Despite the corporators making hue and cry over the water crisis in the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has made it clear that the city is receiving its entire quota of 3,800 million litres daily (mld) presently.

“The BMC supplies 3,800 mld water to the city and we have been maintaining the supply without fail. There are no water cuts imposed on the city,” said additional municipal commissioner Vijay Singhal.

However, water supply needs in city will only be fulfilled after the completion of Gargai, Pinjal and Damanganga projects, said civic officials.

Mumbai presently receives 3,800 million litres water daily (mld) against the actual demand of 4,200 mld. To fulfil the demand, the BMC is also looking for other sources like Gargai, Pinjal and Damanganga in near future. The Gargai-Pinjal project, which will supply 1,300 million litres water, has been on the BMC’s priority list. About 720 hectares of forestland is going to be affected for the estimated '2,725 crore Gargai dam project. This project is to be constructed at Ogade village in Wada taluka. As the 7.5 sq km area of the dam falls into the forest land of Tansa sanctuary, the permission of National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) and Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) is also paramount for the civic body. In addition to this, six villages will be coming under water, for which a fixed rehabilitation policy is required.

The Pinjal dam will be constructed on Pinjal river at Khindse village in Thane district. With a catchments area of 316 sq kms, the Rs 8,000 crore project will supply 865 mld water to Mumbai.

In addition to this, the Central government has decided to divert additional 909 mld water from Damanganga river to the Pinjal project.