Mumbai’s Powai Lake, a significant artificial reservoir managed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), began overflowing early Wednesday morning following continuous heavy rainfall in its catchment area over the past two days. The lake’s water level reached 195.10 feet, surpassing its storage capacity of 545 crore litres (5.45 billion litres), leading to the overflow.
The BMC confirmed that the water is non-potable and primarily used for industrial purposes and non-potable uses in the Aarey Milk Colony. The overflow of Powai Lake comes amid ongoing monsoon showers across Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a generally cloudy sky with more heavy rain in the coming days. Earlier, on Monday morning, many parts of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Pune, and Navi Mumbai, received heavy and light rainfall. The IMD has issued an alert for heavy rain in Mumbai.
According to the IMD, isolated heavy rains are likely in Konkan, Goa, and parts of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, and Kutch from June 18 to 21. Meanwhile, Gujarat can experience light to moderate rainfall from June 16 to 17. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Mumbai, indicating the likelihood of heavy rain leading to potential waterlogging and traffic disruptions. Residents are advised to be cautious, as the weather conditions may cause inconvenience and interruptions to daily life. The overflow of Powai Lake highlights the challenges posed by intense monsoon rains in urban areas. While the lake’s capacity was designed to handle such volumes, the increasing frequency and intensity of rainfall due to climate change may necessitate a reevaluation of infrastructure resilience.
Urban planners and environmental experts emphasize the importance of sustainable water management practices and the need for cities to adapt to changing climatic conditions to mitigate the impacts of such events. As Mumbai continues to experience heavy rainfall, authorities are monitoring the situation closely to manage potential flooding and ensure public safety. Residents are urged to stay informed through official channels and take necessary precautions during this monsoon season.
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