MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced that the current water stock in Mumbai’s seven lakes stands at 77,851 million litres, which is projected to last for only 20 more days. This situation persists even as the city continues to endure a 10% water cut. Comparatively, the water stock was 1.22 lakh million litres at this time last year and 1.66 lakh million litres in 2022. “This year’s stock should suffice for 20 days as the city requires 3,750 million litres of water daily,” stated a BMC official.
Despite the grim outlook, hydraulic department officials remain cautiously optimistic, noting that rainfall has commenced at the lakes and is anticipated to intensify. Rainfall measurements at the lakes are as follows: Upper Vaitarna at 60mm, Modak Sagar at 78mm, Tansa at 88mm, Middle Vaitarna at 101mm, Bhatsa at 114mm, Vihar at 164mm, and Tulsi at 154mm.
“In comparison to the same period last year, the lakes have received more rainfall,” the official elaborated. “For instance, Upper Vaitarna had only 7mm and Middle Vaitarna 15mm last year, whereas Tansa received 77mm, Bhatsa 19mm, Vihar 24mm, and Tulsi 40mm.”
The water stock in the lakes has officially remained at 5% for the past week. The consistent percentage is due to Mumbai’s ongoing supply being drawn from the lakes’ reserve water stock. In February, the state irrigation department approved BMC’s request for reserve water stock from Bhatsa (1.4 lakh million litres) and Upper Vaitarna (93,500 million litres). BMC data indicates that the lake water stock was 84,155 million litres on June 10, 84,155 million litres on June 16, and dropped to 77,851 million litres by June 17.
The IMD’s Colaba and Santacruz observatories have recorded 197.6 mm and 128 mm of rainfall this season, respectively. Due to subdued rain activity, both day and night temperatures have remained higher than normal. On Monday, Colaba recorded a maximum temperature of 34.2 degrees Celsius, which is 2.7 degrees above normal, while Santacruz recorded 34.3 degrees Celsius, 2.2 degrees above normal. Minimum temperatures were also elevated, with Colaba at 28 degrees Celsius and Santacruz at 27.6 degrees Celsius.
