10% water cut from July 1 if rain stays away

Mumbai: After much deliberation, the BMC's standing committee on Wednesday passed a proposal to impose a 10% water cut from July 1. The civic administration, though, assured that this is a "precautionary measure" and the water cut may not be imposed if the rainfall improves over the next few days.      Rajiv Jalota, additional municipal commissioner, told TOI, "As a precautionary measure, we have planned to impose a 10% water cut from July 1. But if we receive adequate rainfall in the next few days, we may not impose it. A fresh decision will be taken after reviewing the situation."      According to the hydraulics department, Upper Vaitarna and Modak Sagar can provide water for the next 56 days, Tulsi 104 days, Bhatsa 115 days and Vihar 75 days. The current level of the lakes is slightly above the minimum level required.      The decision to impose the cut gave committee members an opportunity to discuss conservation issues. Anuradha Pednekar, Shiv Sena corporator  and standing committee member, said, "Across the city, several housing societies use booster pumps." While other members such as Rais Shaikh, Samajwadi Party group leader, said, "We claim to be a world-class city. Shouldn't we have certain provisions to deal with a delay in monsoon? It only shows lack of long-term planning."      Laxman Dhoble, water supply minister, said that if rains don't arrive in the next 10 days, the government will have to chalk out a strategy to deal with the situation. "If the situation worsens, then in consultation with chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and deputy CM Ajit Pawar, the department plans to restrict supply to pools in hotels, construction industry and even some industrial units." PARCHED STATE  Panel to look into water distribution in worst-hit areas Sharad Vyas & Sanjeev Shivadekar TNN  Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has set up a fourmember committee of senior bureaucrats to take stock of the worsening water crisis across the state. The panel will look into the availability of water and its effective distribution in cities and villages affected by the shortage.      CM Prithviraj Chavan has directed municipalities and district officials to prepare contingency plans and judiciously use water in reservoirs only for the purpose of drinking. A total of Rs 92 cr from the state contingency fund (CF) has been released for water and fodder shortages across the state. Of this, Rs 20 crore is meant  specifically for areas with water shortage. The CF has Rs 150 crore in its kitty.      The cabinet on Wednesday expressed concern over the crisis worsening in Pune, Jalna, Osmanabad and Nashik. These cities have water stocks which will not even last until July 15. Pune, one of the worst-hit, has just 4% of water stock left in its reservoirs. However, Mumbai has stock until July 15 and heavy showers expected in two days in reservoirs that supply water to the city are expected to further ease the situation, said officials. "Mumbai has the option of drawing from its reserve stock," said an official      The water level in reservoirs across the state has plummeted to 13% because of a late monsoon, which usually arrives every year in the second week of June.