In a concerning development for Mumbai residents, the water levels in the city's crucial dams have plummeted by nearly 32%. This significant drop in water reserves raises alarms about an impending water crisis, with only enough water available to sustain the city for the next two months.
The seven dams that cater to Mumbai's water needs, including Urdhwa Vaitarana, Modak Sagar, Tansa, Madhya Vaitarana, Bhatsa, Vihar, and Tulsi, are currently at a mere 32.32% of their total storage capacity. This marks the lowest water level recorded in the past three years, posing a severe challenge for the Mumbai Municipal Corporation in ensuring a steady water supply to its residents for the next four months until the arrival of monsoon rains.
According to the latest data, the total available water in these dams stands at 4,67,766 million liters. To put this into perspective, the municipal corporation's water department estimates that one percent of this water is adequate to meet the city's needs for three days. However, with the summer season exacerbating water consumption, the municipality's existing plans may prove insufficient to address the escalating demand.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, municipal authorities have already reached out to the state government, urging action to mitigate the water shortage. Just at the beginning of March, the water reserves stood at a relatively healthier 42%, underscoring the rapid depletion witnessed in recent weeks. In response to the crisis, officials have indicated that reserves from the Bhatsa and Upper Vaitarana dams could be tapped into to supplement Mumbai's water supply if necessary.
The dwindling water levels in the city's dams paint a stark picture of the looming water scarcity Mumbai faces. As the authorities grapple with the challenge of ensuring adequate water provision to its residents, urgent measures and water conservation efforts are imperative to navigate through this precarious situation. With the specter of a water crisis looming large, Mumbaikars are urged to use water judiciously and adopt sustainable practices to mitigate the severity of the impending shortage.
For more updates on the water shortage situation in Mumbai, stay tuned to Powai News.
