Powai lake overflows due to heavy rains, Mumbai’s water stock now at 55%

On Tuesday, heavy rains lashed the city, leading to massive traffic jams and delaying local train services. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) disaster management cell, trains across Central, Harbour and Western lines were running late by 10 to 15 minutes.

But, the silver lining came in the form of increase in water levels across lakes that provide water to the city. While the rainfall in catchment areas has led to a considerable rise in levels of water reservoirs, BMC maintains that the stock is adequate but not enough.

The reservoirs supplying water to Mumbai have got filled up to 55 per cent of the annual requirement, BMC’s deputy municipal commissioner (general administration) Sudhir Naik told PTI.

“Till today morning, we have water stock of 7,52,445 million litres, which is almost 55 per cent of our yearly requirement of 14 lakh million litres, which can be called satisfactory but not enough,” Naik said. Following the heavy rains, the Tulsi lake in suburban Powai started overflowing this morning.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), meanwhile, has forecast heavy rains at some places in Konkan region.

“In the next 24 hours, intermittent as well as heavy rainfall is likely in the Konkan region, especially in south Konkan region. We are contemplating to issue an advisory to fishermen in those areas,” IMD Mumbai’s forecast director Shubhangi Bhute told PTI. During the last 24 hours, the central Maharashtra and Marathwada regions witnessed mild rainfall, while Konkan region got good downpour she said.

The rainfall recorded at some prominent places in Mumbai and Konkan region during last 24 hours is as follows: Colaba – 55.8 mm, Santacruz – 58.3 mm, Harnail – 110.9 mm, Ratnagiri – 67.7 mm, Alibaug – 89.4 mm, Bhira – 83 mm and Mahabaleshwar – 49.9 mm rain.