Mumbai’s water stock increases by 20% compared to last year

The heavy rainfall over the last week has significantly increased the city’s water stock, bringing some much needed respite to Mumbaikars.

According to a civic official, the BMC had recorded 3.02 lakh million litres of water stock across the seven lakes which supply water to the city till July 10 last year. This year, as of the same date, the water stock has increased to 3.65 lakh million litres.

While the two main reservoirs, Bhatsa dam and Vaitarna dam, are not filled to capacity, the additional 63,000 million litres of cumulative water stock is a welcome change.

However despite the increase in water stock, the 20 percent water cut across the city is likely to continue for the foreseeable future according to BMC officials.

Owing to a scanty rainfall last year, the civic body had imposed a 20 percent water from August 2015 to ensure that the water stock lasts till the next monsoon.

A civic official also added, “Mumbai’s seven lakes need to cumulatively stock over 14 lakh million litres of water to last the entire year without any water cuts. Since we are far from meeting that, we have not decided to take call of the water cut. But, if the rainfall continues like it has been for the next two weeks, then there is a good chance that the water cut may be called off.”