A dry Holi this year?

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has appealed to the citizens to not waste water in rain dances during Holi celebrations over the weekend.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has appealed to the citizens to not waste water in rain dances during Holi celebrations over the weekend.

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The civic body is also considering declining requests for water tankers, except those made for potable uses.

A decision on the same is expected soon, sources from the corporation told Hindustan Times.

“People should avoid organizing rain dances this year,” said Anil Diggikar additional municipal commissioner.

Mayor Shraddha Jadhav also appealed to citizens for cutting down usage of water on Holi as the city was grappling with water shortage.

She asked people to use only dry gulaal (red colour) to celebrate Holi instead of orgnising rain dances.

The city has been facing an acute shortage of water due to scanty rainfall last year.

A 15 per cent water cut for residential uses and a 30 per cent water cut for commercial users has already been imposed.

During Holi, housing societies get together and organise rain dances — sprinklers that spray water from above on revellers.

The water department estimates that of the 3 lakh-odd housing societies in the city, at least 5,000 residential societies ask for water tankers to celebrate Holi and rain dance every year.

According to the department’s estimates, 5 crore litres of water is used up by rain dances during Holi.

The city receives about 3,000 million litres every day from six lakes and the BMC is already tapping into the reserve supply of some of these lakes to meet the daily water requirement. Residential societies, in many areas, buy water tanker every day to meet the their daily requirement due to water shortage and low pressure.

“Water stock in the lakes is 23 per cent less than last year. We will have to save at least 23 per cent of water and only then can BMC supply water till July 31. If monsoon this year is a bit delayed, water cuts could increase,” said an official from the water department.