Water levels up in catchment areas after rains

Heavy rains in lake catchment areas have brought some good news for Mumbaikars. In a single day, nearly 18 days of water stock has been added to these lakes. The development means that for the first time this year, the useful water content in city lakes has bettered last year’s stock.

According to civic data, in a 24-hour period from July 9 to 10, the seven lakes supplying water to Mumbai — Modak Sagar (105.80 mm), Tansa (79.80), Vehar (0.02), Tulsi (0.02), Upper Vaitarana (119), Bhatsa (101) and Middle Vaitarana (115.60) — received an average rainfall of more than 100 mm.

Barring Vehar and Tulsi, there was heavy rainfall in all the other lakes, due to which the levels of Bhatsa and Middle Vaitarana went up by 2.10 metres and 2.35 metres respectively. There was also a significant rise in the levels of Modak Sagar (1.04 mt), Tansa (0.58 mt), Upper Vaitarana (0.55 mt).

The useful content in these lakes has now reached up to 3,65,247 million litres, whereas it was 3,02,313 ml last year. Since the beginning of monsoon, this is the first time the useful content has overtaken the 2015 figures.

The development has brought smiles back on the faces of officials of civic hydraulic department. “It is a very good sign. Till now, Vehar and Tulsi used to receive good rains, but there was not much rainfall in other major lakes. The trend is now reversed and we are hoping that it will continue further,” said a senior civic official.

While Vehar and Tulsi fall in city areas, the other five lakes are in the neighbouring Thane district. “Lakes in Thane district have bigger catchments areas than Vehar and Tulsi. For the city not to face water cuts during the summer season, these lakes need to be filled to their capacity,” he added.

Despite the good rainfall in catchments areas, the civic officials however said that the ongoing water cuts would continue till the lake levels reach a “sufficient mark”. “The levels still need to be improved a lot for the water cuts to be withdrawn. We will take decision at the appropriate time,” said A.K. Tawadia, chief hydraulic engineer.

Due to inadequate rains last year, the BMC has imposed 20 percent water cuts on residential users and 50 per cent on commercial and industrial consumers.