Mumbai's reserved water quota averts severe water crisis for now

In a challenging scenario, Mumbai's reserved water quota plays a crucial role in ensuring adequate water supply for the city. Without the utilisation of this quota, the lake levels would have plummeted to a mere 7 per cent. Presently, the lake levels stand below 9 per cent. However, with the reserved quota, the water quantity has reached 16 per cent of the total storage capacity of the lakes, potentially sustaining the city until the end of July. The final decision on water cuts will be determined by the progress of the monsoon and lake levels by the end of June.

The significance of the reserved quota becomes apparent when considering the possibility of a delayed monsoon, which would have resulted in the imposition of water cuts, as seen in previous years. Fortunately, the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) obtained permission to utilise 75,000 million litres of water from both the Upper Vaitarna and Bhatsa dams. The BMC has already used 28,182 million litres from the reserved quota of Upper Vaitarna. Currently, the city receives a daily water supply of 3,850 million litres, and 28,182 million litres are equivalent to a 7-day supply.

Comparatively, the lakes had water stocks of 12 per cent in 2022 and 13 per cent in 2021. The BMC will not wait until the end of July to decide on water cuts but will assess the situation by the end of June. P Velrasu, Additional Commissioner of the BMC, stated, "We will closely monitor the rainfall in the catchment areas for another week, consider the patterns of the last few years, and then decide on water cuts by June end." He further added that a 10 per cent water cut for a month would only extend the water supply by three days, highlighting the limitations of this approach. However, if the situation worsens, implementing water cuts becomes unavoidable.

The BMC has received numerous letters from the chief minister and state officials expressing public opposition to a hike in water charges this year. The civic body increases charges on June 16 each year. "The water charges are linked to the increased cost of operation and maintenance of water supply. However, if people do not want an increase, the BMC may forgo the hike this year. There is no proposal at present," stated another BMC official.

Water stock in million litres

Lakes stock
1,28,873 ml

Upper Vaitarna Reserve
46,818 ml

Bhatsa Received
75,000 ml

Total
2,50,691 ml, representing 15.7 per cent of the total storage capacity (1,447,363 ml) of the seven lakes.