Mumbai to face water cuts from May 30

Mumbai: Amid the water scarcity in the financial capital of the country, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to impose a water cut of five per cent in Mumbai city and suburb area from May 30 for a week.

The civic body will also increase water 10 per cent from June 5 as precautionary measures. The water stock in Mumbai reservoirs has plummeted to 9.69 per cent. The civic body has appealed to the Mumbaikars to use water judiciously.

The announcement of water cut comes a day after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde held  a review meeting in connection with monsoon preparedness at BMC headquarter in the presence of BMC commissioner and administrator Bhushan Gagrani, ministers Deepak Kesarkar and Mangal Prabhat Lodha.

An official from the BMC said that there is no reason for Mumbaikars to panic. The water cut is being implemented so that the water stock will last as long as possible. The water cuts would also be implemented in the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) and Bhiwandi Nizampura Municipal Corporations (BNMC).

According to the civic body, the monsoon was active till October 15 in 2021 and 2022. But there was comparatively very less rainfall in October 2023, which led to the water stock being around 5.64 per cent less this year compared to the previous year.

“As on May 25, 2024, a total of 1,40,202 million litres of water is available in the dams supplying water to Mumbai. At present, only 9.69 per cent of the 14,47,363 million litres required per annum. We are keeping a close watch on the water stock and supplying water in a planned manner every day,” the official said.

According to the BMC, the water cut would not be withdrawn till satisfactory rainfall is received.