7 lakes supplying water to Mumbai filled

Mumbai: With monsoon all set to withdraw by the end of this month, Mumbaikars are sitting pretty in terms of water supply as all seven lakes have been filled nearly to their capacity.

It means that they will not have to face any water cuts till the end of next summer.

According to the civic data on Septemter 25, the total water stock in all seven lakes – Modak Sagar, Tansa, Vihar, Tulsi, Upper Vaitarana, Bhatsa and Middle Vaitarana – is 14.35 lakh million litres (ml). Mumbai needs 14.5 lakh ml water to last for the entire summer.

While four lakes – Modak Sagar, Tansa, Vihar, Tulsi – have already started overflowing, the remaining three – Upper Vaitarana, Bhatsa and Middle Vaitarana – are on the verge of reaching their overflow mark.

The full supply level of Upper Vaitarana, Bhatsa and Middle Vaitarana is 603.51 metres, 142.07 metres and 285 metres respectively. Their levels have now reached 603.48 metres, 141.81 metres and 284.80 metres.

“Mumbaikars will not need to worry about water supply. The stocks are good enough to last for the entire summer,” said a senior civic official.

Meanwhile, the monsoon is showing signs of withdrawal as favorable conditions are developing for its withdrawal, said an official of the Indian Metereological Department (IMD).

The IMD forecast says that there will be rains and thundershowers at a few places for the next three-four days before the monsoon withdraws.

“The favourable factors, on the basis of which monsoon withdrawal is declared, include reduction in moisture levels and no rainfall for five consecutive days along the extreme western parts of the country,” the official said. “In addition, formation of an anti-cyclone in the lower troposphere is also crucial in order to fulfill the withdrawal criteria prescribed by the IMD,” added the official.