Good news: Lakes levels rise

Some good news for the water-starved city. Water levels in the six lakes that supply water to Mumbai are gradually improving due to heavy rain in the catchments in the last two days.

Some good news for the water-starved city. Water levels in the six lakes that supply water to Mumbai are gradually improving due to heavy rain in the catchments in the last two days.

HT Image

Data available with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said until 6 am on Tuesday, Vihar Lake, located in the interior of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, recorded 200 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours.

Last monsoon, the lake was only 36 per cent full. There has been an increase of 0.11 metres in water levels in Vihar.

Bhatsa, the state-owned dam, recorded 60.40 mm of rain. Tansa received 22.60 mm, Tulsi recorded 38 mm, Upper Vaitarna received 9.80 mm and Modak Sagar received 8.20mm.

“It’s a good start but needs to continue for the lakes to fill,” said Chief Hydraulic engineer Vinay Deshpande.

The BMC is depending on the monsoon to help it tide over the unprecedented water crisis.

The total water stock in all the six lakes is 70,407 million litres as against a 2.06 lakh million litres same time, last year.