Mumbai: Monsoon likely to be late, water stock low

Given the possibility of delayed monsoon, the state government has asked the BMC and other civic bodies about their plans for using the existing water stock. The BMC will not impose any cut but it has asked for extra water from the reserve. There is 31 per cent of stock remaining in the Mumbai lakes, slightly less than last year's figure.

In 2022, the city faced a 10 per cent water cut at the end of June due to the delay in the arrival of the monsoon.

A worrying factor this summer is that the overall water stock of the state is slightly on the lower side compared to last year. The state government, in light of this, has asked all municipal corporations to submit their plans in case the monsoon is delayed. The BMC also received the letter from the state.

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The Bhatsa lake on August 28, 2011. File photo

"The water stock for the city is enough for the summer. But as has been seen in the past few years, the delay in the arrival of the monsoon creates a panic situation. So we need to use the stock judicially," said Purushottam Malavade, chief of the hydraulic engineering department.

Another official said that the BMC has submitted a plan and there is no mention of water cuts in it. "Instead, we requested that 75 million cubic metres of reserved stock each be reserved from Bhatsa and Upper Vaitarna. The stock will be used only in case of crisis," the official said.

The city has 4,40,000 million litres (ML) of water in reservoirs as of April 18. Generally this much (30 per cent) water stock lasts till June-end. But last year even though the water stock was slightly more than that of this year, the city faced a water cut at the end of June due to a delay in the arrival of the monsoon. A 10 per cent water cut was imposed on June 27, 2022, when the water stock went down to nine per cent. The regular supply started in July when the water stock reached the 25 per cent mark.

The India Meteorology Department forecasted a normal monsoon with 96 per cent rain this year despite evolving El Nino conditions, while the agency Skymet said the monsoon will be below normal with 94 per cent rain from June to September.

April 23
Day water supply cut will be withdrawn