Civic body to extend 10% water cut till end of month

Insufficient rain has brought some bleak news for Mumbaiites.

Insufficient rain has brought some bleak news for Mumbaiites.

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The civic body has decided to extend the 10% water cut in supply, imposed on July 1, till the end of this month. This is owing to the quantity of useful water available in the six lakes that supply water to the city.

On Monday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) made a formal announcement about the extension of water cuts.

HT had reported on Monday that there would be a likely extension to the cut, earlier announced only till July 15, despite water levels rising in lakes, as the BMC wants to preserve its water stock to meet city’s needs even after the monsoon ends.

“There is not much rainfall in catchment areas and we have decided to extend the 10% cut till July 31. We will review the situation on August 1 and take a call on whether to continue or withdraw the cut thereafter,” said Rajiv Jalota, additional municipal commissioner (projects).

Officials, however, said that the situation this year is better than in 2009 and 2010.

“Water levels in lakes have shown a rising trend this year. We are better off than we were in 2009 or 2010. Last year, there was good rainfall and therefore, the need to impose cuts had not arisen,” said a senior civic official from the hydraulics department.

After imposing the cut, the BMC is supplying 3,087 million litres of water to city households daily, as opposed to its regular supply of 3,430 million litres.