BMC cracks whip as water woes worsen

Mumbai: In an unprecedented development in the city, the severe water shortage led to the BMC cutting supply to 32 buildings under construction on Tuesday. Water supply to the 32 sites was snapped within hours of the civic headquarters ordering individual wards to begin cutting supply to new construction, jacuzzis, gardens and swimming pools. Orders were also given to reduce water supply to hotels and clubs.
    The developers who faced cuts were given various reasons, including outstanding arrears. Seven-day warning notices were also delivered to as many as 80 other developers, threatening them with action in case of misuse of water and non-payment of dues.
    Owners of hotels, jacuzzis, clubs, gardens and pools remained unaffected on the first day of the extreme measures taken as officials were still busy compiling information on their numbers and usage. "We hope to save about 200 mld (million litres a day) from the drive,'' said Pramod Charankar, deputy municipal commissioner.
    The city has been reeling under a water shortage due to poor rain in the six catchments.
Although there was heavy rain on Tuesday night, the situation remains grim. Facing the brunt are the western suburbs and the island city. In fact, Upper Vaitarna, the largest supplier of water to that region, is now giving no water. It has dipped below the drawable limit and the BMC has decided not to use its reserves for fear of dipping into water which is to be used the rest of the year. Vihar lake, which supplies mostly to the Kurla area, has also dipped below the drawable limit. However, officials are pumping reserves from that lake.
    Charankar said that the western suburbs and island city have about 20 to 25 days of water left in the Tansa and Modak Sagar (Lower Vaitarna) lakes, while Bhatsa holds a 50- to 55-day supply for the eastern suburbs.