Plug leaks, save 100 million litres a day

Alarmed by the water crisis, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has undertaken several conservation initiatives.

Alarmed by the water crisis, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has undertaken several conservation initiatives.

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It has started surveying public buildings to identify leaks and repair them immediately. “We surveyed 97 buildings and repaired 13 major leaks,” said Deputy Municipal Commissioner Pramod Charankar, who retired on Monday. The BMC estimates that 100 million litres a day could be saved if all leaks are repaired.

It also plans to hold ‘Jal Melas’ in all wards, where it will show videos on the need to save water. Such messages will also be played on TVs at stations, in buses and at malls, coffee shops and popular hangouts like McDonald’s. The BMC is hoping to connect with the youth by taking the water conservation message to social networking sites like Orkut. Quirky posters and radio jingles are also being used to spread the message.

“We hope to sensitise the public to [the crisis],” said Additional Municipal Commissioner Anil Diggikar.

The BMC is digging borewells and tubewells, and repairing existing wells, to shore up supply and to use as fallback options during future crises.

The BMC is insisting on rainwater harvesting plants and sewage recycling plants in all new buildings.

It has, for the first time, launched campaigns to educate its staff about water management.